Cade Lucas
When Werribee’s Craig Bisson logged onto Facebook earlier this year, it was to try and sell something and make a quick buck.
Instead, the 52 year old has ended up giving stuff away for free, as well as donating a lot of his own time and effort.
“I got onto this page of Wyndham City Community noticeboard and saw a lot of generous comments there,” said Mr Bisson whose mind quickly changed from how much money he could make to what he could donate to others.
“I thought, well, if I can give back by doing my cooking and then maybe try and work out some sort of a way where everyone helps each other rather than any money changing hands.”
Six weeks on and Craig Bisson’s Facebook page has become a makeshift charity as other members of the Wyndham City Community page donate all manner of things that are then given to homeless people living in and around Werribee.
“Some people do donate money that goes towards shoes or clothing, but the majority of it goes towards home cooked meals” he said
Mr Bisson, a divorced father of three who lives with one of his daughters, isn’t a trained chef, but grew up in Kyneton where his family ran hotels and knows how to whip up hearty pub grub.
“Casseroles lots of vegetables, fruit,” he said of type of meals he puts together in his home kitchen with food donated by local producers, restaurants and supermarkets.
“I constantly have two or three slow cookers on the go.”
The recent donation of a commercial freezer has allowed Mr Bisson to donate even more meals to the needy.
The freezer came courtesy of Phillip McDonald, another altruistic Werribee local, who through his organisation, Feeding Families, provides meals to more than 100 homeless people across Wyndham seven nights a week.
“He stated he needed help from me and I said,’look, mate, no problem,” said Mr McDonald of how they joined forces.
Via the Feeding Families distribution network, Mr Bisson now feeds about 30 homeless people a night in central Werribee, allowing Mr McDonald to focus further afield.
“Craig’s taking on helping with the meals at night for the homeless guys and girls in the streets in front of Coles, that’s been a big ease for me because that’s one place I don’t have to worry about distributing anymore,” he said.
It was out in front of Werribee Coles that Craig Bisson came across homeless person needing more than just a hot meal.
“About a month ago I noticed a gentleman outside of Coles and he was homeless with exposed feet. He had no shoes,” said Mr Bisson who quickly put a call out on Facebook.
“And sure enough, within two and a half hours, we had a brand new set of shoes for him.”
That was how Mr Bisson met Greg – he preferred not to give his surname – who now not only has shoes on his feet, but a roof over his head, with Craig putting him up in his Werribee home.
When asked the obvious question as to why he was doing all this, Mr Bisson said giving had always been in his nature, but his struggles over the past 15 years had supercharged his desire to help those in need.
A bout of cancer left unable to walk and in need of a mobility scooter and the resulting depression led to a battle with alcohol abuse.
Back on his feet and living in regional NSW, he lost everything in the Black Summer bush fires.
After moving to Wyndham to be close to his 90- year old father, Mr Bisson has found his home and his calling.
“Everyone’s got their own story,” he said of the outlook he now has on life.
“I don’t judge people by how they look or what they wear because I’ve certainly been down there.”
