Stories of involvement in nccc - Lola
1. How did you find out about Connect and when did you first start coming?
I found out about Connect in the ‘Leader’ (local newspaper), I read it every week and on page two they always have little notices of activities that are available to the people in the city of Darebin. And on them was one morning for Connect, and as I live near by I thought, ‘Well I might as well go round because you can be always be doing housework’. So in August 2003 I went around for the first time, and I stood at the door for about 10 seconds, and somebody came up and spoke to me and from then on I’ve met different people from all ages, all sizes, all ideas and I find that it is very pleasant to go there on every Thursday that I am available. I think Connect is an excellent word for it, because we are connecting with each other.
2. How has Connect been of benefit to you?
Connect has benefited me because I come every Thursday, I know that it is an outing but if I am unfortunate enough not being able to come, well that’s my loss. But everybody is different here and I think one of the main things that appeal to me at the very first luncheon I went to was that we said grace. And later on we created our own grace and when we sit down to our lunch on a Thursday there is a sheet of paper on the table in front of everybody and the grace has been printed out so you don’t have to worry about the poor memory like I have, you may read it, that was one item that appealed to me. And it doesn’t matter what age group you are people mix at the tables, where all ages and I think it is a pleasant atmosphere to think that we can come and the main thing is that some people get a lift on the bus we have a very pleasant driver called Daniel. Who is very patient with helping us all on and off, because he is kind enough to take me home to where I live and he never growls, however slow we are, and nobody sort of feels they that are a nuisance he always got a smile for us, but the whole atmosphere is something different in the area that wasn’t available before the four churches gathered together and came to this one area and its already been said transport.
3. What is your opinion of our CareWorks program and church in general?
Well I certainly learnt a lot more this morning from what you’re doing. I suppose I knew there were other things other than feeding us on a Thursday but I think the modern trend has a variety of works, its not like it was when I was younger. We had girl guides, and scouts for the boys, and mothers clubs and all sorts of things but with so many of us that returned to work, which I did in the 1950’s when my children were teenagers, there’s a whole new aspect set out and all the different things that we can apply to do here, with the outings which with the other day most groups over the years have had an outing, but the work that was put in to take some of us, who were able to go up to Yan Yean, it was such a beautiful day and the fact is when you come in on a Thursday, every second Thursday, the work has been done getting boxes of groceries ready for people. Now that’s another act that one wouldn’t think of really. You just don’t get them if you can’t pay for them, and that means that people have given up time to get that ready. There always seems to be some activity, but with it all everybody seems to have half a minute or a minute to speak to everybody, doesn’t matter what age group you are, and when you sit down to a meal, there’s chatter at every table, it doesn’t matter with whom you are sitting, what age group you are in, and if you not good on your pins, somebody will get up and get your food for you from the counter, which is a novelty and I think the catering is superb and its also friendly and all those people who do this catering, the variety of food we get, well it could be on a long menu and I think we are very fortunate, especially me at my age to be able to come. Thank You