For the Love of Volunteering

For the Love of Volunteering

Written by Miranda Cook

Former P&F Auxiliary President Berthine Ommensen doesn’t want to be painted as a mother who “has it all”, debunking the idea as a misrepresentation and a myth.

Still, it’s hard not to be impressed by her ability to raise four boys, complete a PhD, while at the helm of the P&F Auxiliary — a volunteer position she hel for four years, taking up almost full-time hours to raise money for the improvement of Brisbane Grammar School.

“I know it does sound a bit crazy,” she said with a laugh.

Berthine stepped down as President at the start of this year, handing the reins to Vice President Rachael Dauber.

Honest and down-to-earth, Berthine explained she couldn’t have done it without the support of her mum helping at home.

“She was always supportive of my sister and I going to university, and I don’t think she saw it as a chore as she loved having that relationship with our boys.”

Berthine has several connections to BGS. Her husband is Old Boy David Weightman ‘88 whom she met through a mutual friend who also attended the School, and her cousin Old Boy Andrew Wilkie ‘88 boarded at BGS.

I saw it as a way to make a positive contribution. I was a stay-at-home mum, but I wanted to stay engaged and cognitively active.

Despite each of her sons — Old Boys David Weightman ‘18, Hugh Weightman ‘20, Drew Weightman ‘21 and Ned Weightman ‘23 — being “vastly different”, the couple felt BGS had something to suit each of their interests and ambitions.

She went on, however, to create her own personal connection to BGS when she began volunteering with the P&F Auxiliary in 2012. She held several positions, including volunteering at the Tuckshop, Parent Representative, Vice President and then President in 2020.

The Auxiliary consists of both a committee and an executive team, which are made up of volunteers who oversee the running of the Tuckshop and Grammar Uniform Shop as commercial businesses, generating funding for significant projects at the School.

“I saw it as a way to make a positive contribution. I was a stay-at-home mum, but I wanted to stay engaged and cognitively active.”

Berthine graciously managed the Auxiliary’s volunteers and businesses through heightened emotions and economic instability during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is known for strengthening the corporate governance of the organisation to promote long-term sustainability.

“We have managed to operate both businesses in a commercially efficient way, and as a result, have been able to donate a lot of money back to the School.”

In recent years, funding has supported renovations of boarding facilities at Griffith House and Harlin House, the Bursary Fund, the STEAM Precinct and STEAM Cafe. The Auxiliary made a generous pledge of $1.5M towards STEAM on Giving Day last year.

Her proudest achievement, however, has been working with a cohesive, committed and enthusiastic group of volunteers and staff.

“We had a lot of new people start in 2020, and they’re all still here — I think that’s evidence we got it right.”

For many years, Berthine also volunteered with other support groups, such as the Tipperoo Support Group and Rugby Normanby Blues.

After somehow managing to find time to complete her Doctorate of Philosophy last year, she plans to present the findings of her thesis at conferences, and then look for the next challenge.

“I’ll come up for some air first,” she said with a smile.