THE Dartmoor township has banded together to support its most vulnerable residents during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
Working together with the Bush Nursing Centre, Dartmoor General Store has offered increased services for the elderly and at-risk in recent weeks.
Store owner Kim McLean said the shopfront had helped provide meals for community members and offered grocery delivery to help the district’s residents maintain social isolation.
“Store manager Brooke Ropitini helps to cook meals every Tuesday, which are collected by the nursing centre and delivered to the elderly and vulnerable,” Mr McLean said.
“We are just trying to help maintain as much social isolation as possible.
“We are also offering grocery delivery services for those in need and are encouraging essential delivers to housebound residents in the area.”
Mr McLean said the Dartmoor Hotel Motel was implementing a similar initiative on Thursdays.
“If you look at the broader demographic of Dartmoor, it is predominately dominated by the older generation,” he said.
“Some of them actually want to get out, but it is more the community telling they cannot.
“Nobody has been through this before and we have not rehearsed it so who knows what is to come.”
Mr McLean said the store was a considerable “sounding post” for many rural residents in the area where people could come and vent their frustrations.
“People need somewhere to go and somebody to chat to,” he said.
“Everybody is angry they are not able to go fishing, or have a hit of golf, but they are able to go for a walk around the golf course.
“There is a bit of hostility – not towards anybody in particularly – but everybody is a bit anxious and worried they do not know when it will finish.”
Mr McLean said the bulk of the store’s stock was purchased in Mount Gambier, with some supplies being difficult to secure.
“I have been trying to increase the stock we have on our shelves to enable our locals to purchase supplies here without having to travel,” he said.
“I find it difficult in keeping my stock levels up, because I have to go to four or five different stores to find anything.
“It is not just Dartmoor but a lot of neighbouring towns would be in the same boat as us.”
