Not all hero's wear capes

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Not all heros wear capes, a great saying and one that really resonates with me especially watching my wife achieve outcomes for people in our community. COVID19 has been hard on everyone and in Australia we had an eight month long hard lock down. Not able to see friends, family or loved ones. Many confined to within 5kms of their home. Only allowed out to get basic supplies and that was it.

It's easy to forget how different levels of hardship was experienced by different generations, for many of us in my age group we took to social media and the internet. Spent hours on the phone to our friends, used Skype and other forms of internet. But for many this wasn't the case.

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The Peter Mac Centre is a hospital and clinic for those diagnosed with cancer, it's Australia's leading cancer specialist centre named after our global best cancer researcher and doctor Peter Mac. He devoted his life to helping people with all forms of cancer, sadly he passed away with a form of incurable brain cancer. I wonder if he knew or if the universe put him on his path for what was to come.

In his name and honour Peter Mac Centre was opened 4 - 5 years ago, it's a global leading cancer treatment and research facility located in Melbourne.

Throughout the lock down many of the patients were left isolated and unable to speak with or see family as they embarked on their journey through cancer treatment.

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Seniors in our community were another cohort of people experiencing isolation from families and loved ones. Without the technological skills to access the internet and many not having a connection found it hard to remain in contact with family, friends and loved ones.

Significant concerns were raised about health, safety and wellbeing of our seniors that something needed to be done to ensure constant connection and meaningful relationships were formed and maintained through lock down. It was/is hard going through a pandemic and the issues magnified when alone and isolated from society.

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My wife stood up and with her fellow councillors and council all worked to address the social isolation by teaming up with the Peter Mac Centre and our communities seniors to provide knitted blankets, throws and garments for cancer patients. Together they formed bonds with people and spoke regularly over the phone.

Delivering the personalised garments through non contact Delivery services to ensure no community transmission of COVID occured. As we learned people with underlying health conditions were greatest at risk of dieing of COVID and had an out break occured at the Peter Mac Centre the consequences would have been horrific. Safety of our seniors and cancer patients were of the utmost importance.

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Today, COVID in Australia is all but almost been eradicated and for the first time in small groups people got to meet each other. My wife went down to the centre to meet some of the volunteers who knitted the woollen items. Many thanked her for understanding and establishing such a wonderful initiative that gave them purpose and reason to continue. To wake up each day and for the meaningful connections they have made.

A period of time that could have been very difficult for our seniors whom would have otherwise been isolated, forgotten about and alone. They had a wonderful time and will remember the lock down in a positive light. Being able to provide something of value to another person.

The greatest heros don't wear capes, aren't always recognised but I recognise the hard work my wife has contributed to our community and I thank her ❤



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The pandemic wave was a period that was hard on everyone especially when the lockdown came.

I am super proud of your wife for establishing this initiative to help people during the hard time. She has done good and has given alot of people hope to continue hang on even when things seem tough.

May God continue to reward her. My regards. 😊

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Thank you for your kind words and yes I agree with you. If was such a vital support for many elderly isolated people in our community

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