By Alesha Capone
Werribee South woman Liz Bartlett has launched a community register to assist residents during the coronavirus pandemic.
Ms Bartlett, an ex-nurse, said the register was both for people who could provide help and those who might need help – such as residents in isolation, older residents, healthcare workers and employees keeping essential services running.
Ms Bartlett said she wanted people who required help with – or who could assist others with – tasks such as meal preparation and delivery, dog walking and pet care, collecting groceries or medication and IT matters to get in touch.
She also hoped to hear from teachers, senior school students and university students who could tutor children online
She said people on their own could also get a phone call from someone in the group, to break up their day.
“It will be our priority to keep people, both those who are giving and those who are receiving, abiding by the latest safety regulations and social distancing advice,” she said.
Ms Bartlett said Narelle and Mandy from Anglers Anchorage in Werribee South had allowed her to put a notice about the community register in their shop window.
So far, she had mostly heard from people wanting to help others.
Ms Bartlett said she was worried some people needing aid had not contacted her, as they felt others would be more deserving.
“But I want them to know we’re here – not just me – and we want to help,” she said.
Ms Bartlett said she started the community register because, growing up in a rural area, she had seen groups such as the Country Women’s Association (CWA) and Country Fire Authority (CFA) assist others without asking for anything in return.
“I think it’s because I’m a country girl, in the country it’s in your DNA, when something goes wrong, you have a think about what you can do,” she said.
Text Ms Bartlett on 04138 89981 if you want to help out, or seek help from, the community register.
