Thanks a Million: How Melbourne pair’s friendship became a lifeline during COVID lockdowns

Mums Jacinta Riley and Sally Roscholler were inseparable before the pandemic — and their strong friendship bond proved a vital sanity saver during Melbourne’s lockdowns.

Sally Roscholler, right, nominated Jacinta Riley in the Thanks a Million campaign for being a great friend and helping her get through the COVID-19 lockdowns. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Jacinta Riley is not a medical professional, a supermarket worker, a bus driver or a schoolteacher.

But to Sally Roscholler she is far more important than the frontline workers who helped keep our country going through COVID-19 – she’s her best friend.

And while Roscholler nominated Riley in the Thanks a Million campaign, the pair should just have nominated each other, so indispensable did their friendship become in the long, lonely months of COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne.

NOMINATE SOMEONE WHO DESERVES THANKS

In her nomination, Roscholler said she has lost count of the number of times she thanked Riley for helping her get through COVID-19.

“She drops off little treats, a stew for dinner or a coffee and never misses a text or chance to catch up rain, hail or shine,” Roscholler said.

“I don’t know what I would have done without her. She has kept me sane and living with hope.”

The pair met through mother’s group a few weeks after their children were born two years ago and have been inseparable ever since.

“If I could print out all the texts we have sent each other – especially through COVID – I would have a small book,” Riley laughed.

“My partner jokes that if I haven’t seen Sally in a day or two, I’m a little grumpy.”

The Hawthorn mothers live down the road from each other and would often bump into each other at the local park during the months Melbourne was in lockdown, which they both agree was a sanity boost for them both.

READ MORE

MUM’S SELF-CARE CREATION HELPS WOMEN TACKLE PND

SUPERMARKET STAFF RECOGNISED FOR CHARITABLE EFFORTS

‘UNSUNG HERO’: VICTORIAN SCIENTIST’S EXTRAORDINARY COVID EFFORTS

With husbands that work long hours and sometimes travel for work, they are a constant support for each other, even cooking extra portions to share on some evenings when either is home alone.

“COVID-19 and lockdown has strengthened our friendship,” Riley said.

“I work in superannuation, so I would have days that were exhausting with a higher volume of calls and people in dire need of funds. But a text from Sal would get me smiling again.

“We just instantly clicked and I honestly feel like the luckiest person in the world to have met someone like Sal.”

Originally published as Thanks a Million: How Melbourne pair’s friendship became a lifeline during COVID lockdowns