A Q&A with Alan Deans

Alan Deans volunteers every week at Foothills Community Care to cook the meals that feed over 100 people. Picture: MIKAYLA VAN LOON.

1. What is something people don’t know about you?

There is not much more to tell, I do have a serious addiction to M & M’s, I can’t open a packet without eating them all.

2. Why and when did you join Foothills Community Care?

I had always been looking for some kind of community work but the very long hours we worked in catering didn’t enable me to share my time. It was only after we sold the business, I found Foothills.

3. What do you enjoy most about cooking a meal each week for those who might be lonely or homeless?

Just knowing in a small way, I might have made a difference to someone’s day

4. What have you learnt about people, whether those who volunteer or those who come for a meal, since you started?

I have probably learnt more about myself, how lucky I am, to have Family, Friends and good health. No matter how your struggle, there is always someone nearby doing it much tougher.

5. What do you love most about the Ferntree Gully community?

Everyone is there for the same reason doing their bit to help others.

6. What event, past, present, or future, would you like to witness?

Bob Hawke once famously quoted that no child will live in poverty, whether he meant this as policy or dream it would be great to see.

7. Which four guests, dead or alive, would you invite to a dinner party?

All our guests deserve an invite, but probably our older guests, usually when you delve into their story, they have had a very interesting life living through wars, depression and a massive change in how we live today compared to 50 or 60 years ago.

8. Who do you admire the most?

Stephen Barrington deserves all our admiration at Foothills, he works tirelessly to ensure those that need assistance, physically, mentally or financially in our community are looked after.

9. What are some of your hobbies?

A Squash and Racquetball tragic, I started squash when I was about 15 and have played at least twice a week since. My body is failing now so I have switched over to Racquetball, it’s a bit easier on the body but I am still too competitive to slow down or stop.

10. What is your favorite book and/or film?

My favorite book is Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, I have read it twice and would read it again if I could remember who I lent it to.

It’s a novel that reads like an autobiography, big read at 936 pages, it would make a great movie.