Looking forward to

Lisa and her brother Mike

Lisa's family on their trimaran

Lisa with her husband Neil and children Rebecca and Michael.

Lisa Dingwall may be a twin, but she is also one of a kind!

As Executive Assistant to the Director of the UQ Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR), Professor David Paterson, it’s clear that Lisa is a natural organiser.

However, Lisa is also a community leader and spends much of her spare time doing volunteer work – a pastime she has enjoyed since childhood.

“My twin brother, Mike, and I were born in Perth and moved east with our parents when we were aged one. We came to Queensland when we turned 10,” Lisa explains.

“As kids, I was in the Girl Guides and Mike was involved with Scouts. I later joined Venturer Scouts, formerly Senior Scouts, so that I could be with Mike. It was lots of fun, especially doing the first-aid courses.”

Scouts also had other bonuses – one of those was meeting her now husband Neil, whom Lisa met at the community organisation and married when she was aged 21. They have two children.

Lisa’s community spirit and love of life come from her parents.

“Mum was a nurse and a very compassionate person, and Dad was an engineer and loads of fun. They loved sailing, and together we spent many weekends cruising around on our 24-foot trimaran,” Lisa reminisces.

“When I had my children, I volunteered at their school and helped with reading, tutoring, tuckshop, the swimming club and gymnastics.”

When the kids grew older, Lisa joined UQCCR as a medical receptionist in 2009.

“I love working here because it’s such a friendly and supportive workplace,” she says.

“One of the requirements of my role when I started was having a current first-aid certificate.

“While completing this at St John Ambulance Queensland, the trainer mentioned that they had a volunteer group providing first-aid at events. I decided to join the St Lucia Division based at UQ’s Emmanuel College, and I have never looked back.

“I became Division Manager and then State Officer, providing operational support to nearly 20 divisions across South East Queensland.

“Currently, I am the Health and Medical Services Co-ordinator for St John volunteers and help with operational planning. I am also the Event Commander for major events, such as Anzac Day and the Brisbane Ekka Show, and volunteer at UQ events, including O-Week, throughout the year.”

“Volunteering offers so many rewards, from the people you meet to memories that last a lifetime.”

“I remember when the 2011 floods happened, I had only joined St John six months earlier,” Lisa recalls.

“I travelled to Bundaberg as a volunteer and saw houses flattened, the local caravan park washed away, and so much mud. People started pouring into the evacuation centre to donate food, clothes and toiletries, and when they stopped to talk, I realised that many of them had also been affected, but still came to help others. That was my first volunteering experience during a natural disaster.

“Within days of returning to Brisbane, the floods arrived in the city and Lockyer Valley. I volunteered at the Grantham and Murphy’s Creek evacuation centres, and again, the devastation was incredible.

“Other disasters where I have volunteered include Townsville during Cyclone Debbie and Glen Innes following the bush fires.”

During the 2022 Brisbane floods, Lisa co-ordinated the St John response, volunteered at two evacuation centres, and spent a lot of time talking to displaced people.

“Many of them just needed an ear and were so grateful for the help they had received,” she reveals.

In recognition of her community service, Lisa was inducted as a Member of the Order of St John in 2020. She has also received several citations and awards from the Queensland and Federal governments for volunteering during natural disasters.

Even though Lisa feels deeply honoured, it’s the people she meets through her community work that mean the most to her.

“There are so many good people involved in community work, including the best friends I have made through St John,” she says.

“You always get something out of volunteering, including ongoing training, life-long learning and attending some amazing events!

“Volunteering is good for the soul and if you find something that you really enjoy and have time to give, you will get so much out of it.

“I am so lucky to be involved in something that I love, and hope that my passion for volunteer work inspires others to think about how they can help their communities.

“There is so much that needs to be done, and it is important to give back to communities when you can.”

Lisa with Quentin Bryce, former Governor-General of Australia

This story is featured in the Winter 2022 edition of UQmedicine Magazine. View the latest edition here. Or to listen, watch, or read more stories from UQ’s Faculty of Medicine, visit our blog, MayneStream.