The gift of a lifetime - Bruce

The gift of a lifetime

A lifetime of helping others, sparked through Bruce’s love of his wife, Mavis.

Bruce Smith and his late-wife, Mavis, have left gifts in their Wills for Australian Red Cross after volunteering more than 30 years together. Through an enduring legacy of love shared between Bruce and Mavis, Bruce hopes that their impact will be felt by people in the future long after they’re gone.

Humble beginnings

Bruce has dedicated more than 30 years volunteering for Australian Red Cross. But it was through his love for his wife, Mavis, that sparked his interest in Red Cross when they moved to Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 1968. As a young schoolteacher in PNG, Mavis began leading the local Red Cross group in the school, and Bruce supported her. When they returned home to Australia, Mavis continued her strong involvement with Red Cross through her passion for youth. This led to many years dedicated to supporting Red Cross, which led her to receiving a Meritorious Service medal.

Decades of service

When Bruce retired, he put his hand up to volunteer for Red Cross. Over the decades, Bruce has picked up refugees from the airport, helped them settle into their new homes, and has also helped survivors of the Black Saturday bushfires (2009). While Mavis has now since passed on, Bruce wants others to think about their contribution to helping others beyond this life. “If you’ve been supporting a cause throughout your lifetime, then please don’t stop when you’re thinking about what’s going to happen after you leave.”