When Pay Pay first began helping out in her children’s classrooms at Gosnells Primary School, she just wanted to lend teachers a hand and be part of her children’s school life.
Ten years later, she is still volunteering, and her contribution has now been recognised with a 2026 Burt Volunteer Award.
Pay Pay was recognised for her service to the Gosnells Primary School community, where she has volunteered with the P&C for nine years and is also the School Board Chair.
Her involvement began when her first child started school about a decade ago.
“It was nice to be able to see what the kids were like in the classes and my kids loved it when I help out,” she said.
“They are so happy. It was also really nice to be able to help out the teachers.”
A year later, she joined the P&C after her husband became treasurer, a position he still holds.
Some of her first activities were helping with the Mother’s Day and Father’s Day stalls.
“It was a fun experience seeing the kids faces light up and getting excited over spending money,” she said.
“And nine years on I am still helping P&C.”
These days, Pay Pay helps with fundraisers, the uniform shop and provides an extra pair of hands for teachers when needed.
She has also taken on a personal tradition of making graduation cakes for students, something she plans to continue until her son finishes primary school in a couple of years.
“I think the graduation cakes I make in the last few years has been meaningful,” she said.
“It is my way of giving back to the community and seeing the excited faces of the students as it marks their end of primary school milestone, its pretty heartwarming.”
The annual Mother’s Day and Father’s Day stalls also remain important to her.
Pay Pay said a small group of mothers put considerable time into organising presents and running stalls, while also being mindful that the occasions can be difficult for some children.
“These occasions can be hard on some children as some may or may not celebrate it,” she said.
“But the mums I work with have big hearts and they ensure no child struggles through.”
Pay Pay said the parents who continue to turn up and help are a big reason she has remained involved.
“We all do it for the kids,” she said. “No matter how busy the mums are, they work and are busy in general, they always put their hand up to help.”
She would like to see more parents become involved, saying volunteering did not have to mean taking on a large commitment.
“It isn’t as scary or daunting as it may appear,” she said.
“It is a great way to meet other parents and with more help we could do more for the school.”
Receiving a Burt Volunteer Award came as a surprise to Pay Pay, who said she initially did not want anyone to know about the nomination.
“My idea of volunteering is just a simple act of kindness,” she said.
“I do what I do and I leave, ensuring I have helped someone. I didn’t need to be recognised.”
The award, however, gave her a different perspective on the work she had done over the years.
“Since receiving the recognition, I have realised that what I had been doing has made my family proud of me,” she said.
“But the nomination has also made me think that perhaps I have been doing more than I realised. My kids are so proud of me like I am of them.”
She said the recognition also belonged to the other parents who volunteer alongside her.
“I see this as an award for them, not just for me,” she said.
“Volunteering roles can be lighter if there were more of us. I hope more parents will join because it is for their children.”
After a decade at Gosnells Primary School, Pay Pay said one of the things she valued most was the relationships she had formed with students, parents and staff.
“I love that when I walk around at school I don’t feel like a stranger,” she said.
“The kids call me and wave at me; they give me big smiles and have chats with me.”
She also enjoys connecting with families from different cultural backgrounds, sometimes using what she described as her “rusty Chinese” to speak with other parents.
Her older children have since moved on to high school, but she said they still miss their former primary school.
“It is a very special community and I love being part of it,” she said.
