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Despite facing hardship herself, one principal has decided to give back to her local community from the seat of her “pimped-up” mobility scooter.
One Agency’s Colac office is driven by principal Merryl Hilton, and it has taken quite a charitable turn.
Celebrating her first year with the Colac office, Ms Hilton has definitely faced trouble, but not the office itself, as it has recorded triple the number of rentals since its opening last year and is hoping for even more growth come spring.
Back in February, Ms Hilton suffered a serious fall and broke her foot, requiring a Moon Boot, and then had another foot-related injury. This did not stop her, however, as she has quite literally motored on in a “gopher”, a mobility scooter, handing out orange, white and black shopping bags to the community.
“When I came back to work after the injury, I thought, ‘How am I going to get around?’ I can’t just sprint up to the bank anymore. So, I decided to hire the ‘gopher’,” Ms Hilton said.
“I’ve not given to vendors this time around — I’m a community-minded person.
“I’ve been like it since I was little. It’s something my mother instilled.”
To celebrate her One Agency debut year, she donated $200 to the Long Road Appeal to improve the quality of specialist health in Colac as well as a Backpack Bed for the Homeless, an organisation targeting emergency bedding for the homeless.
This August, she also organised a raffle with the prize coming from Thankyou, a company that donates its profits towards ending global poverty.
This is not the only charitable work Ms Hilton has assisted with, as she coordinated with the ANZ in organising an auction, with proceeds going towards assisting local residents that were impacted by fires.
“We raised $59,000 and 100 per cent of this went directly to helping these farming families,” the agent said.
John Stewart, One Agency head of Australasian Membership, said that Ms Hilton’s passion for her community sets her apart in how she guides, advises and assists sellers, buyers, tenants and investors.
“Merryl’s commitment to all sectors of the community comes from a real and irrepressible caring attitude, and when first we spoke with her, that came through as the main driver of the person she is,” Mr Stewart said.
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