From the nurses and doctors working in GP clinics, hospitals and fever clinics – to truck drivers, supermarket staff, aged care workers, teachers, early childhood educators and emergency service workers.

We had the chance to meet a few of our local heroes.

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Rachelle Call

COVID-19 Community Assessment Clinics Unit Manager (Pine Rivers and Brighton)

In the matter of 24 hours Rachelle Call went from working as a Duty Manager for Community and Oral Health to helping run a drive-through COVID-19 testing facility.

“I was offered the job one day and started it the next,” Rachelle says.

“I was happy to help out.”

The drive-through testing facility, at Pine Rivers Community Centre Strathpine, is working to ease the load on Metro North Health Hospitals.

It is open 8am-4pm weekdays.

There is also a testing clinic at the Brighton Health Campus, which is open 10am-6pm seven days a week (excluding Good Friday).

Rachelle says in her 25 years as a nurse she has never seen a situation like this before, especially not one that changes so rapidly.

“There is a saying that you learn something new every day, well I am learning something new every hour,” Rachelle says.

She says a lot of work went on behind the scenes to get the clinic up and running and changes were being made constantly.

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“For example it rained here (a few) Fridays ago,” Rachelle says.

“We got the whiteboard out and brainstormed ways we could continue to provide the service.”

The service is operated by five to six clinicians each shift.

“The majority of people have put their hands up to help out,” Rachelle says.

“We have nurses from Queensland Childrens’ Hospital helping test paediatric cases.

“We also have access to the Metro North Health Nurses bank.

“It is a collaborative effort though, it is not just nurses, we also have people working in administration and management roles.

“They are all fantastic and are doing a fantastic job in a difficult situation.

“The clinicians are outside, in the temperatures, for the whole shift.

“They are great are making sure they take regular breaks and are hydrated.”

Rachelle, a mother of two teenage girls, recently had to send her husband for testing at the drive-through clinic.

“He flew in from overseas the Monday after the 14 day self-quarantine rule was introduced,” Rachelle says.

“It was very hard I couldn’t touch him or hug him.

“We gave him the spare room and bathroom and kept to one end of the house.

“We didn’t eat together either.

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“He started to develop respiratory systems so I sent him to get tested.

“We were fortunate his test came back negative.”

Rachelle said her two daughters had also stepped up.

“It is hard for them, they can’t socialise with their friends and my oldest is in Year 12 so we are trying to make sure she does all the assessments to still get her ATAR at the end of the year.

“But they are doing everything they can to keep (me) in work.

“And are being as helpful as teenagers can be around the house,” Rachelle laughs.

Rachelle is just one of many in the Moreton Bay Region working on the frontline during this unprecedented pandemic.

From truck drivers to doctors, emergency service workers to supermarket staff, teachers and childcare workers to warehouse operators and public service staff.

They have all taken on new roles and extra workloads in these challenging times to ensure the community is safe and has access to essential items and welfare payments.

But as Rachelle says, the community has just as vital a role to play in stopping the spread of coronavirus.

“Do what we are being directed to do,” Rachelle says.

“Wash your hands and stay at home.”

Janelle Weeks

Fresh Manager, Burpengary Woolworths

Janelle Weeks joined Woolworths in 2001 as an after-school job.

She has worked her way up, taking on a number of roles in the past 19 years.

“I really enjoy the variety in my job and the contact we have with customers – many of

them are regulars who we’ve built relationships with over the years,” Ms Weeks said.

She said her job had been “pretty full-on” in recent weeks.

“But it’s really brought us together as a team – everyone jumps in to help each other out. There’s lots of camaraderie and we’re facing each day together,” she said.

While Ms Weeks said she is often drained at the end of shift she knows it is a stressful time for everyone in the community.

Ms Weeks said some people had gone above and beyond to say thanks.

Last week a stranger started a $100 tab for all Woolworths team members at a nearby coffee shop.

“We still don’t know who it was, but it’s those acts of generosity that make us feel so supported by the community,” she said.

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Carlos Lakerdis

Assistant Store Manager, Coles Redcliffe

Carlos Lakerdis has worked in the industry for 35 years and says he never imagined it he would one day be considered a frontline worker during a global health crises.

Mr Lakerdis started working at Coles when he left high school, as a part time job while studying.

“Every day is much different from the previous, and each challenge is an opportunity to develop my character,” he said.

Mr Lakerdis said while the virus outbreak had not changed his job it had made it more challenging.

“Every day now has its own new challenge, from an increase in demand of a particular item to customers’ health needs,” he said.

“Encouraging customers through this pandemic and helping them through these challenges is certainly something that I never expected I would be doing.”

“Our customers have been very supportive and thankful of my team here.

“Customers can rest assured we are doing everything we possibly can to make your shopping experience safe and enjoyable.”

Kylie Hardy

Customer Service Manager, Coles Redcliffe

“Each day is a new day with new challenges,” says Kylie Hardy.

Mrs Hardy started working in the industry 27 years ago as a night filler when her daughter was a baby.

She said her favourite thing about the job is the “fantastic customers”.

Mrs Hardy said the virus outbreak had changed how things were done in the store.

“We have learnt to rethink how we do things to ensure shoppers can leave the store feeling safe and calm during such an uncertain time,” she said.

“We are grateful for the people that offer us such kind and caring words daily.

“It encourages us to keep putting our best foot forward for each and every one of our customers.”

Neha Sidhu

Clinical Co-ordinator, Inverpine residential aged care community

With visitations restricted and strict prevention measures in place Neha Sidhu says one of her most important jobs is making sure the residents feel safe.

Ms Sidhu has worked in the aged care industry for a decade.

“I trained in nursing overseas and migrated to Australia in 2009, taking a job at Bolton Clarke (then RSL Care) Tantula Rise in Alexandra Headland,” she said.

“I first worked as a Personal Care Worker and then Diversional Therapist.

“I took the opportunity provided and became a Registered Nurse in 2012.

“I’m now doing my Masters in Primary Healthcare.”

Ms Sidhu said the favourite part of her job was caring for the residents.

“The thing I love most about being a nurse is the variety of areas I get to focus on including wound management, infection control, palliative care and providing primary health education to a vulnerable community. No day is the same,” she said.

The experienced nurse said the virus outbreak had reminded her about the importance of teamwork.

“We are vigilant and working along with the Queensland Health COVID-19 guidelines to ensure our residents, team members and others are safe,” Ms Sidhu said.

“It’s kept me on my toes – I have to think about several things at one time, more than usual. “We are also providing support and reassurance for our residents in an unknown environment and that’s really important.”

Sirene Koegelenberg

Senior Administration Officer, Bolton Clarke Inverpine

A love for working with the older generation and computers led Sirene Koegelenberg to her job in the aged care industry 12 years ago.

“I got the opportunity years ago to transfer from a job as a medical receptionist into an aged care administration position, and never looked back,” Ms Koegelenberg said.

“I like working with older people, and I love computers. My current position gives me the best of both worlds.”

Ms Koegelenberg said the COVID-19 outbreak had changed the way staff could interact with residents.

“We have to make sure we put them and their safety first,” she said.

“A few months ago I used to sit with a resident while she taught me to crochet. I don’t know who had more fun! I learned a lot from her, and she thoroughly enjoyed our sessions.

“At the present time, continuing these lessons face-to-face isn’t possible but we’re all learning to find new ways of doing things that allow for social distancing.”

Dr Peter Marendy

Margate GP

Dr Peter Marendy purchased the practice at Margate from Dr Lance Grimmett in January 1965 and has practised there ever since.

He also has a clinic at Redcliffe.

“As a young child when I was asked what I wanted to become I said I wanted to be a doctor,” Dr Marendy said.

He said he has never seen anything like the COVID-19 pandemic in his career.

“Many years ago there was a severe flu epidemic,” he said.

“I saw 100 patients that day and one male patient with a small family died in hospital. However I have never seen such a contagious infection with such severity as this COVID — 19 pandemic.

“There is no doubt that flu vaccines are very important in preventing the spread of influenza. At the moment we have no vaccine but strenuous efforts are being made to produce one.”

The virus has led Dr Marendy to do more consults over the phone and to limit the number of patients in the surgery at any one time.

“There has been an impact on the community,” Dr Marendy said.

“People are avoiding close contact with each other to prevent the spread of the virus.

“Every one is at risk but the over 50s are at a much higher risk which seems to increase with age also because these people have other illnesses such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and

cardiovascular disease.”

Dr Marendy praised all the frontline workers – “they deserve praise and admiration for what they do”.

“Despite all this I am thankful we live in Australia,” he said.

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Constable Anthia Underwood

Bribie Island Police Station

“If it’s not essential stay home” – is the message from Bribie Island Police constable Anthia Underwood.

Const. Underwood has been at the station for five months, fresh out of the academy at Oxley.

Before pulling on the uniform she was a business owner.

She said he loved job because “it’s challenging and you never know exactly how the day will go”.

“As a police officer a lot of our time goes into talking with the community,” Const. Underwood said.

“Since COVID-19 our role in educating the community means the levels of engagement with people has increased substantially.”

Sergeant John Dunbar

Bribie Island Police Station

Being a police officer is all John Dunbar has wanted to do.

He served as a member of the UK police force for seven years and has been with Queensland Police for the past 15.

“I love the community involvement and helping people,” Sgt Dunbar said.

While the job has not changed since the COVID-19 outbreak Sgt Dunbar said the types of calls had.

“Calls for service for breaches of restrictions and inquiries about fishing are increasingly taking more and more of our time,” Sgt Dunbar said.

“For the most part people are doing the right thing but sadly there are members of the community who feel self-entitled to continue to do their own thing at the detriment of others. “People need to realise, people can become gravely ill from this virus and their disregard for the restrictions may result in them impacting the health of one of their family members.

“Can you live with that?”