Maureen Reed's craft is all about care Childcare worker Maureen Reed, 80, with some of her charges / Pic: Stephen Cooper Source: DailyTelegraph MEET Miss Maureen, master dodge ball player, craft queen and cooking superstar - the energetic 80-year-old may also be one of the oldest childcare workers in Australia. Grief-stricken after the death of her husband of 55 years, Maureen Reed decided to pursue a new career in childcare to help cope with her loss. Last month she graduated with her childcare diploma in out of school hours care after three years of study. She has also been recognised as NSW's Vocational Student of the Year. "There are never two days the same," said Miss Maureen, who works at Holy Family Children's Services in Marayong. The children are wonderful and keep you on your toes. She works four days a week in before and after school care, looking after up to 45 children. In school holidays she can work up to 45 hours in vacation care. Melissa Aung, 10, said she gets to do "lots of fun stuff" with Miss Maureen: "We are doing cross-stitch." Kassandra Shreatha, 10, nominated making cupcakes as a highlight, while five-year-old Lucas Wilson enjoyed playing dodge ball with Miss Maureen - who says she "never gets hit." "It is so different from when I had children - there was no childcare then," she said. Now there are PlayStations and iPods and iPads and mobile phones. They weren't part of our world - but you have to keep up to date. You are never too old to learn and set new goals. If you want something, just go for it.