July2014_THE CASSEROLE BANK
In previous decades, we have witnessed a significant number of rural and regional communities lose their banking facilities. Dayboro is fortunate indeed to have the Electricity Credit Union (now called ‘Everyone’s Credit Union’). However, did you know we have another bank? It functions as any other bank by providing facilities for deposits, withdrawals and other necessary transactions.
Then again, the interest on deposits and type of transactions are a little different from your average bank as rather than a measure of increased financial return, interest is the degree of social, health and emotional benefits generated by deposits – and deposits are edible as opposed to taxable.
Several years ago, Dr Paul Inglis at the Uniting Church extended the role of the church to embrace different ways of meeting the needs of people who had fallen on hard times in Dayboro. When Dr Inglis retired two years ago, Kay Murchie and her sister Ann Turner (2013 Dayboro joint recipients ‘Residents of the Year Award’) who were already active in the community, stepped up and continued the work of Dr Inglis. Women from the Combined Churches of Dayboro: Catholic Church, Anglican Church and Uniting Church work as the Bank Tellers and stock the Casserole Bank. (Their term not mine) These women (and sometimes men) cook the meals in their own homes; package them in containers, and store them in a special freezer/bank vault at the Uniting Church. Heather Lye banks delicious quiches regularly. There are several other cooks/Bank tellers. But in reality never enough. Caroline from the Dayboro Medical Surgery provides various Banking/caring services and is a valued member of this underground army. Local hairdresser Sarah Parry refers customers (with their permission) to the Casserole Bank staff when she sees they are in crisis. When admitted to hospital, my husband was quite ill; I was left alone and unable to manage independently, and Sarah recognised my crisis. The underground army from the Bank arrived and immediately knew what to do.
The Casserole Bank army usually supports seven or eight families every fortnight with food hampers however, this number varies to 11 families on occasion; – eight would be the average number of families helped each fortnight – 26 fortnights a year. Approximately 60 families receive Christmas hampers. As explained at the outset, food is not the only currency the “bank” deals in – for example, on returning home from the doctor there was a note on my kitchen bench that more casseroles were in the freezer and my tea towels had been washed and pegged out! These are acts of caring often overlooked by professional health providers – the little things such as watering your favourite rose when you are too sick to stand up. Friendship, laughter, and company and a hand to hold are priceless treasures these women provide. Yet every person I have asked ‘do you know about the casserole bank’ has said ‘no’. Not only do many of our new residents not know of these women and what they do but also a significant number of long-term residents do not know of their existence. To explain that they are a modest group of women is an understatement.
Many, many people have received casseroles and other forms of help in times of ill health, hospital stays or just people doing it a little tough with bereavements or worldly pressures. Wonderful women do the shopping for the food hampers and willing helpers, if Kay and Ann need it, pack the fortnightly food hampers. The Combined Churches Committee provide the money for the staple food each fortnight for the food hampers and also pay for ingredients for the casseroles if people are struggling themselves but still want to help by cooking meals. Members also donate tinned food to the Bank.
Contact is somewhat laid-back and Kay and Ann are concerned that many needy people may be missing out – not only on food but also company. Contact sometimes comes from the medical centre or the school, or anyone who becomes aware of someone in need. Of concern, as Kay tells me, not surprisingly there are many older people in our community and some are quite unwell or frail. These people experience difficulties getting around and attending to their daily requirements i.e. medical appointments, business appointments, shopping etc. From her experience, there are many lonely older and younger people in our community in need of assistance. The main aim of this article is to help Kay and her team of underground ‘bank tellers’ to let the community know that there is help out there. In addition, there are many young families doing it tough and once again, we need to let them know they are not alone. The Combined Churches Committee (which Ann and Kay attend) see youth as an issue as well. Chaplain Darren at the school is doing a wonderful job with the young people after school on a Friday and with young high school students. However, Kay understandably laments that Darren really could do with some more volunteer helpers.
The second equally important reason for writing about the Bank is to round up a few more cooks and delivery staff. It is a sad reflection on our society when the same small group work tirelessly to help a growing community. What happens to our Bank when the tellers can no longer do their work?
Above all, bank staff are not judgemental; they expect no accolades and do not even inquire about one’s religious status – as Kay reiterates it is okay to need and ask for help – we have all been in situations of need and we are blessed to have a Casserole Bank and “Bank staff” who genuinely care about what they do. Ann Turner is officially the Welfare Manager. Her phone number is 3425 2864 and Kay’s number is 3425 2379.
Dr Kim Wylie PhD
Dayboro
Combined Churches Committee: Danny Nugent, Di Evans, Jill Garvey, Ann Turner, Kay Murchie, Jenny Brown, Pastor Richard Lance, Pauline Cruice, Chris Kent and Pastor Gary Levens.
