Pyalong Neighbourhood House paying it forward to farmers in need
Pyalong Neighbourhood House branch president Moira Waye is ensuring that she does become good friends with every farmer in need.
WITH every hamper Pyalong Neighbourhood House puts together for farmers in need, Moira Waye writes a letter.
The letter, she says, is to let the recipient know they are thinking of them. They are friends who haven’t met. And this hamper is a hand up, not a hand out.
And Moira, who is Pyalong branch president, also includes her phone number, so they can call her if they need someone to talk to. And, often, they do.
“It has been an emotional rollercoaster,” Moira says. “You feel very happy we’re helping but when you hear the stories they’re tragic.”
The initiative began when Pyalong Neighbourhood was approached by Need for Feed about supplying groceries for dairy farmers who were struggling.
On one occasion she remembers a lady ringing her in tears because she’d been suffering from sore, cracked lips. By chance, the hamper she received had included a tube of lip balm.
“We can’t help everyone but there will be a lot of families in a better state mentally because of what we’re doing,” Moira says.
“It is not only that they get the hampers, it’s the fact they realise people are caring, are thinking of them, and that is really good for their mental health.
“Sometimes I go to bed and I’m totally exhausted and I think I’m too old for this and you get up the next day and do it all again because the smallest thing can make such a difference in someone else’s life. ”
Moira joined the Neighbourhood House when she retired, and very soon found herself president, a role she has now held for 12 years.
As well as the work with Need for Feed, Pyalong Neighbourhood House also organises courses such as responsible service of alcohol and food handling; run welfare checks on locals; run an opportunity shop (with the proceeds going towards groceries for farmers); and run events for Australia Day, Anzac Day and Biggest Morning Tea.
Moira also organises a bus to take locals to Bendigo for breast screening, and other day trips for locals to enjoy.
“I think without the volunteers in Pyalong, the community itself would be a lesser place,” Moira says.
“The volunteers of the Neighbourhood House keep the cohesion within the township, people know there is somewhere to go if they need help.
“I think all of Australia would be a hell of a lot poorer if it wasn’t for people volunteering.”
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