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Council News CITY OF WAGGA WAGGA
FIRST PRINTED SATURDAY 11 APRIL 2020
Issue No: 290
Weekly information from us to you
CARING COMMUNITY: Kim McLaren enjoyed her first day in a new role as a cook with Carevan this week. Kim’s usual daily work role is with Riverina Regional Library.
Council staff help local charities Looking out for the community’s most vulnerable members in these tough times is a responsibility many Wagga Wagga City Council staff are accepting as part of their “new” daily work routines amid the pandemic. Council staff have answered a call from General Manager Peter Thompson to assist local charities which are working harder than ever to have meals available for those people in need. Mr Thompson asked Council staff members whose roles may have changed in the current situation to redeploy in other capacities, and
he received an overwhelming response from staff willing to assist those agencies working with the city’s less fortunate. The response has come from not only staff impacted, but staff already working full-time in their usual roles. More than 120 Council staff indicated their intention to help in various roles which led to Council working closely with Carevan to co-ordinate a number of other agencies with the sole goal of getting food on the tables of those who need it. Carevan’s Lynne Graham said the relationship with local charities and Council will be invaluable in coming weeks and months as challenges to provide meals across the city increase. Mrs Graham said the charities had been tested through a lack of resources as many volunteers were elderly and could no longer assist due to being “at risk” and self isolating during the pandemic.
“It has been quite challenging for all of the agencies who offer various services across the city,” Mrs Graham said. “When you lose quite a large percentage of your volunteer base, things can start to look a bit dire as the demand for your services is still there. “We were so grateful to get an offer of assistance from Council. The Mayor, the General Manager and the Member for Wagga Dr Joe McGirr have been instrumental in working with all agencies to ensure we have people available to do those everyday things that need to be done … it keeps the supply chain going, and that is vital to everything we do.” Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Greg Conkey OAM praised the efforts of all involved. “We are a strong, spirited and proud community which has a great desire to look after others in need,” Cr Conkey said. “I am proud to know that Council staff
have stepped up when the offer to assist was made available. The response was immediate and overwhelming, and I thank all those staff involved in making this possible. “Our charity organisations in Wagga Wagga do a fantastic job and they deserve a huge shout out as we all approach these tough times together to help a neighbour in need.” Cr Conkey, Mr Thompson and local agencies have been working over the past two weeks to ensure Council’s involvement in various roles. Council will have a working group providing labour and one staff member, who is a cook, started in the Carevan kitchen on Tuesday 7 April. Council has also secured a reliable food source, and is providing a process to ensure agencies have access to it, and can therefore provide more meals. Social distancing is being practised with all staff following the guidelines in place.
Weekly waste tip Sharps should never be placed in kerbside bins as they pose a threat to the workers that manage our waste. Visit safesharps.org.au to find your nearest safe disposal point