Pride of Australia: Virus tester hasn’t quit since outbreak began

A coronavirus test collector has been risking her own health on the line of defence of the pandemic as sweeping case numbers spike across Victoria. Here’s how you can show your graitude to local heroes in the Thanks a Million campaign.

Melissa Madden has been working as a covid tester throughout the pandemic in Werribee and was nominated for the campaign by her sister, Natasha. Picture by Wayne Taylor 7th August 2020

Australians are honouring the local heroes risking their lives and working to keep their communities safe, through the Thanks a Million campaign.

Melissa Madden has been testing locals at a drive-through site in Werribee full-time since the virus hit metropolitan Melbourne.

She has dealt first-hand with the fallout of some of the state’s largest outbreaks, including cases at Al-Taqwa College in Truganina.

Ms Madden said no day has been the same since she began working at the site more than three months ago.

“We have gone from 500 patients in a month to 2000”, she said.

“You can never prepare yourself for each day to come.”

Ms Madden said patients following the rules after promptly getting tested were one of her biggest motivators on days fraught with abuse from a small percentage of people disregarding the risk frontline workers like herself take.

“I want to be out helping to stop this from spreading even more”, Ms Madden said. “To hear that people are so grateful, it makes up for everything we have to go through,” she said.

Ms Madden said her team’s weekly “choccy Tuesday” kept them going, too.

“It gets us through and it’s a way to stay positive,” she said.

Natasha King nominated her sister, Melissa, to celebrate the sacrifices she had made to help others.

“The large amount of people she has tested while being at risk every day is something I thought deserved to be shared,” Ms King said.

Nominations can span frontline emergency workers, volunteers, supermarket workers, teachers and neighbours who have lent a helping hand throughout the pandemic.

News Corp Australia Community Ambassador Penny Fowler said all Australians knew someone who should be celebrated with a nomination.

“It’s so important to tell the stories of all those Australians whose sole motivation was to help others,” Ms Fowler said.

Say thanks at thanksamillion.net.au

[e-mail]