21 May, 2026
When Janice Lynch sits down at the piano at Borella House in Albury NSW, something shifts in the room. Shoulders relax. Toes tap. Smiles appear. For many residents, especially those living with dementia or experiencing memory loss, music unlocks something deep and familiar, even healing. And for Janice, that spark means everything.
“I watched the residents and you can see… their fingers or their toes tapping,” she said. “And the more the reaction is, the more I sort of get hyped up!”
Janice has been volunteering in her community since 1998, but her journey to volunteering in aged care began long before that. Growing up in Western Australia, in between helping run her family’s mixed farming business, she would regularly visit her grandmother’s residential care service to play the piano. After moving east in the early 1990s, her husband retired from the Army and they sought out volunteer opportunities, something meaningful to fill their days. “I was looking for something to do,” she explained. “And so I got involved with lots of organisations and also voluntary work.”
Music makes a way at Borella House
Janice joined Borella House in 2014, after being invited by then activities officer Barbara to play piano for residents. Despite being self‑taught, she quickly became a regular fixture in the place. “I only play old‑fashioned music,” she laughed. “It’s got to be the old piano sort of thing.”
Her sessions are lively, warm and often gloriously silly. Waltzes, “Running Bear,” the “Hokey Pokey,” and the “Chicken Dance” all make appearances. Staff often join in, dancing alongside residents in their chairs. “The whole place comes alive,” Janice said. “And when I say, ‘This is my last song,’ they say, ‘Oh no, can’t you stay a bit longer?’”
Moments that mark you
Over the years, countless memories have stayed with her. One involved a gentleman who became emotional when she played a song that reminded him of dancing with his late wife. “He got a bit weepy… it brought back a lot of memories for him,” she recalls.
She’s learned to read the room carefully. Music can heal, but it can also stir painful memories. “If I know that person has a reaction, I don’t play that again,” she said. “I want them to enjoy the afternoon, not bring back sad memories.”
More than music
If Janice’s journey through volunteering teaches us anything, it’s that you just need to use what you already have: a gift, a talent, a skill. There is room for all kinds of volunteering in local community. Janice’s volunteering extends far beyond the piano. She has taken residents to medical appointments, written newsletters, conducted “life story” interviews, and supported volunteer coordinators. Her background as a correspondent for newspapers and ABC News shines through in the way she really sees people and can draws out their stories.
She believes volunteers play a crucial role in bridging emotional and social gaps for residents, especially for those without family nearby. “It’s a two-way thing,” she said. “Some residents don’t have family to visit them… volunteers fill that gap.”
A message for future volunteers
Now approaching 79, Janice shows no signs of slowing down. Her energy, infectious humour and compassion are part of what keeps her young at heart. And her message to anyone considering volunteering is simple: “Go for it. It’s so rewarding. I get more out of it than what I think I’ve put in. But at the end of the day, if you can make someone happy, get a smile on their face and talking or interacting with other residents… it makes a difference.”
Nicole Waite, Residential Care Manager at Borella House is deeply grateful to Janice and others who volunteer their time. “Our volunteers bring more than just their time — they bring friendship, laughter, different interests, life experiences, and a sense of connection to the wider community. They assist through music, conversation, culture, and companionship, they help residents maintain their sense of self, feel valued, and continue enjoying the things that are meaningful to them.”
For Janice, residential care is not a place of endings. People can continue to thrive and enjoy life. “Just because they go into aged care, it’s not the end of the world,” she said. “You can still flourish here.”
And thanks to volunteers like her, many residents do.