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That the daughter of a family with strong Scottish Presbyterian roots should find herself a practising Catholic is a surprise to Nola Buck.
Not that Nola's conversion was an overnight decision. Her husband, John, is a Catholic and their four children were raised as Catholics. But it was not until 1988 that Nola became a convert at the age of 53.
Nola said the Church's teachings on social justice had a lot to do with her conversion and her decision later to join the Catholic Women's League of Australia (CWLA) in the Diocese of Parramatta.
In St Anthony's Parish, Toongabbie, she was one of the foundation members of the local CWL branch, later serving as diocesan President.
Nola's service over 15 years was recently recognised when she was made a life member of the Catholic Women's League in recognition of service to the League at Executive, Branch and Diocesan levels and for being actively involved in community work.
"Many of the contemporary issues affecting families, the aged, and the bereaved are dear to the hearts of the women in the CWLA," Nola said. "That's what attracted me as a concerned Christian.
"Being in the CWLA is the opportunity to work on social justice issues big and small, from the global trafficking of women and violence against women, to abortion and euthanasia, as well as other issues that I feel strongly about such as access and services for people with disabilities.
"The CWLA is a state, national, and international body that can lobby governments and the United Nations, but on the other hand it's a grassroots organisation of women, which organises and works locally to help people."
In the Diocese of Parramatta, Nola gave the example of Chisholm Cottage at Westmead as a CWLA Diocese of Parramatta project where local Catholic women work together in synergy to effect a positive outcome for families.
The cottage, which is located near Westmead's hospitals, is owned and operated by the CWLA Parramatta. It provides low-cost accommodation for families who are visiting one of the hospitals.
"Our guests have included families of people who have been brought down from the country with a medical emergency or to visit at the outpatients. Sometimes it might be the parents of a sick child, or the father and child need accommodation because mum is in hospital."
Nola said Chisholm Cottage was a project that filled a real need of relatives and friends of patients. "We've made a homelike place where people who are going through anguish can relax away from the confines of the hospital ward."
The cottage is maintained through a roster system of local CWLA members and volunteers who are responsible for changing sheets and towelling, cleaning and opening up for guests.
"Every time we ask for volunteers to help we get a good response from women of all ages, which refutes the idea that younger people don't want to be involved," she said.
If you would like to volunteer to assist with light duties such as answering the phone once a month tel (02) 9633 4228 and leave your contact details.
Nola's other voluntary work includes being on the Board of Ability Options, an organisation that provides accommodation services, case management and employment services for people with disabilities.
She also undertakes office duties for the Post-Polio Network (NSW) Inc. at the Northcott Society in Parramatta.
Along with others, Northcott helped establish the Post-Polio Network and continues to support it. The Post-Polio Network deals with issues arising from the late-onset effects in sufferers of the polio epidemics that swept Australia in the 1930s and 50s.
Nola contracted polio in the 1937 epidemic and still suffers the effects. "I was two at the time I caught polio and I was four years in hospital. When I came home at age six I couldn't walk, but my mother, a teacher, was determined that we work at an intensive physiotherapy program - and I did walk again."
Nola said she was honoured to have been given Life Membership of the Catholic Women's League, especially with the calibre of those members who have previously been so honoured.
