Help yourselves: Carole Maygar, left, and Bec Gould By Catherine Watson
BEC Gould never thought she would see people who can’t afford food in a First World country like Australia.
She is fast becoming used to the reality of life for those on the breadline as she helps to operate a mobile pantry in Wonthaggi.
“We get everything from full-on homeless people to couch surfers, to people who are deciding between food and rent, or medication and food. I don't believe anybody should be put in that position in this country.
BEC Gould never thought she would see people who can’t afford food in a First World country like Australia.
She is fast becoming used to the reality of life for those on the breadline as she helps to operate a mobile pantry in Wonthaggi.
“We get everything from full-on homeless people to couch surfers, to people who are deciding between food and rent, or medication and food. I don't believe anybody should be put in that position in this country.
The mobile pantry – a ute – is a project of the Wonthaggi Owls, a CWA group with a difference. Some of them do knit or crochet, and others bake, but their primary purpose is to make a difference in their community.
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Every Monday the ute is parked in Watt Street, near the Cheap as Chips store. It’s loaded with baked beans and spaghetti, lentils, soups – things that require minimal preparation – along with toiletries, sanitary items and other useful items.
Owls member Carole Maygar says they know plenty of people are struggling. “We've always had homelessness but I think it's got progressively worse with the interest rates putting more pressure on families. |
The mobile pantry makes a couple of stops:
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A comment from one of their regulars has stuck in her head. “We actually live off the back of your ute,” the woman told her.
Bec says rents are very difficult. "They might find a house but whether they can afford it is a different matter. They have to pay their rent so they come to us for food.”
And she sees the problems increasing with businesses closing in the area. “Look at the plaza. Best for Less is gone, EB Games is gone, Jeans West is gone. They were all big employers. So those people are now out of jobs.
“That puts more stress on their families, to find money for food and bills and all the rest of it. It's a real struggle in the final half of the week to afford it.”
“A lot of age pensioners come to us as well,” Carole adds. “There's something wrong when pensioners have to do that in a wealthy country like Australia.”
Community support services
Bec says rents are very difficult. "They might find a house but whether they can afford it is a different matter. They have to pay their rent so they come to us for food.”
And she sees the problems increasing with businesses closing in the area. “Look at the plaza. Best for Less is gone, EB Games is gone, Jeans West is gone. They were all big employers. So those people are now out of jobs.
“That puts more stress on their families, to find money for food and bills and all the rest of it. It's a real struggle in the final half of the week to afford it.”
“A lot of age pensioners come to us as well,” Carole adds. “There's something wrong when pensioners have to do that in a wealthy country like Australia.”
Community support services
- PICAL (16 Warley Avenue, Cowes) operates an emergency food relief pantry five days a week.
- Corinella and District Community Centre (48 Smythe Street Corinella) operates a food pantry service daily.
- Wonthaggi Neighbourhood House at Mitchell House (Murray Street) has a box of donated food on the verandah each day. Frozen meals are available and people without cooking facilities can use the microwave and eat their meal in the warm.
- St George’s Anglican Church, 5 Hagelthorn Street, Wonthaggi. Food Parcels available Wednesday & Friday from 11-11.30am.