Not many people can proudly say they’ve worked at the same organisation for more than two decades and loved every moment of it, but Vinnies Armadale Retail Manager Maryanne Webb just happens to be the rare exception.
This month, Maryanne marked a special milestone recognised by her peers, her 20th anniversary as manager of Vinnies Armadale, but Maryanne’s journey with Vinnies began long before she took the helm at Armadale.
A proud second-generation Vinnies volunteer, Maryanne has fond memories of her early days with Vinnies in Victoria alongside her mother, who volunteered with the St Vincent de Paul Society for nearly 30 years.
After relocating to Perth, Maryanne carried on the family tradition and began volunteering at her local Vinnies shop in Gosnells.
“I wasn’t working at the time because I’d just had my second child. So, I started volunteering at the Vinnies shop in Gosnells on a Saturday morning to get away from my kids, because I had them all week,” she laughed.
“I had been volunteering for about 13 years when I was offered the manager role at Gosnells, and then two years later I got the position at Armadale, and I’ve been here ever since.”
For Maryanne, one of the things she loves most about her job is the people.
“I love what I do, but I could not have done it without my wonderful volunteers. They’re the best team ever,” she said.
“We also have a lot of loyal customers who come in regularly to donate or shop.”
Reflecting on the past two decades at Vinnies Armadale, Maryanne said op shops had transformed from places traditionally associated with affordable second-hand goods to a more fashionable and eco-conscious way to find a bargain.
“The types of customers who go op-shopping have really changed. Today, you see people from all around come in and shop at Vinnies,” she said.
“We’re also seeing more young people because op shopping is a lot trendier these days.
“People love coming in to find the quirky, unusual items, and we also have a lot of vintage pieces and antiques donated to our shop.”
Described by her team as supportive, reliable and a beautiful person with a good sense of humour, Maryanne leads a close-knit group of longstanding volunteers, some of whom have been giving their time to Vinnies for more than a decade.
“Maryanne is an absolute delight,” Vinnies Manager of Retail Operations Louise Allgrove said.
“We are so grateful for all her hard work and dedication to Vinnies over the years.
“Maryanne’s genuine kindness, compassion and love for what she does is something to be greatly admired.”
