Episode 12: Community & Youth - Gillian Simpson

Gillian Simpson has been part of the YMCA for four decades. In this episode, she reflects on her lifelong connection to Drumahoe, beginning with her parents, Pat and Willie Lamrock. Gillian shares nostalgic memories of beetle drives, fundraisers, and the excitement of the disco era—including the time she joined the staff for dinner with a visiting actor from the soap Neighbours.Now a member of the Board of Directors, Gillian discusses the transition from youth worker to strategic leader, the challenges of securing funding, and how her confidence has grown over the years. She speaks fondly of her father’s ethos—that you must give back to your community—and reflects on his "big vision" in establishing the Drumahoe site. It’s a story about family legacy and the magnetic pull of an organisation that, as Gillian says, is "not easy to leave."