Volunteers co-ordinator Rebecca Shaw said she was surprised at the level of the response, about 75 people initially having shown interest in the work, which involves interviewing a patient over four sessions, transcribing the interviews and writing a biography.
After learning more about the work, some respondents decided it was not for them or were unable to attend the information night or training, which were both delayed following Covid-19 alert level changes, Ms Shaw said.
The high quality of the remaining candidates meant it had been difficult to whittle them down to the 14 required.
The new volunteers completed their training last weekend and would be able to begin work as soon as required, boosting biographer numbers across the region to about 25.
Each volunteer would complete about six 12-page biographies a year, Ms Shaw said.
The women who responded to the recruitment call were from a variety of backgrounds.
Some of the unsuccessful candidates had shown interest in other volunteering positions with the hospice, which had 372 volunteers across Otago.
Two-thirds of the volunteers worked at the six hospice shops, but there were also opportunities for volunteering in the hospice kitchen, in reception on weekends and in the evenings, and weekend housekeeping and fundraising roles. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Ms Shaw on 473-6005.
- By Elspeth McLean
