i-City information kiosk volunteer resident Pam Furner has been nominated for an award.
Camera Iconi-City information kiosk volunteer resident Pam Furner has been nominated for an award. Credit: Supplied/Marcus Whisson

Local font of knowledge

Lauren Peden, Guardian ExpressMidland Kalamunda Reporter

Having volunteered as an iCity host for the past 11 years, she has had her knowledge tested about the city.

The busy service, catering for locals and tourists, can attract up to 600 enquiries a day.

But Ms Furner, a bubbly 86-year-old Kalamunda Shire resident, said she loved the work and the challenges.

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‘People just come and ask us where everything is,’ she said.

‘Where banks are, hotels, toilets and shops. I always joke about the funniest request I ever had ” I was asked where the sperm bank was.

‘It’s so interesting and it’s better than sitting at home. It’s great to keep your mind going.’

The avid traveller is no foreigner to life as a tourist and is happy helping others.

‘It’s nice to get visitors to our city and to ask where they’re from and to be able to say ‘I’ve been there’,’ she said.

‘Their faces light up and it’s good because it makes their day a little bit. You feel as though you’re doing something friendly for people.’

She said it could be difficult keeping up with an ever-changing city, but she had a book of businesses and attractions to reference.

‘I only work once a week and gosh shops change. Businesses close and open but we get told about them,’ she said.

‘I think Perth is pretty good. It’s changed a lot ‘