RED Cross volunteers and staff were recognised for their tireless commitment – which has come to the forefront throughout the COVID-19 pandemic – during a flag-raising ceremony to mark World Red Cross Day on Friday.
A small contingent of community members gathered at the Cave Gardens where Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin and Red Cross vice patron Libby Furner raised the red and white flag.
A day of important significance for the organisation was even more poignant last week in light of the current global climate.
The organisation’s international theme for 2020 is connectedness, which Limestone Coast regional manager David Walshaw said had never been more important.
“We are asking people to call on a neighbour who you perhaps have not called on before to make sure they are okay,” he said.
“Embrace connectedness at a time when we are all isolating at home.”
Praising his team – which has continued to operate seven days a week – Mr Walshaw said the most vulnerable people continued to be connected with the services Red Cross can provide.
“We are working to deliver food hampers, doing shopping for them, delivering medication and taking them to essential medical appointments,” he said.
“We are remaining connected to our community and we want everyone else to do the same.”
Admitting there had never been a more challenging time for the organisation, Mr Walshaw said he was impressed with the response.
“Nothing has ever been on the scale of this, it has devastated communities and people are relying on Red Cross services more than ever,” he said.
“We are so proud of what our group have been doing, they have stood up at a time when many others have stood down and continued to provide those essential services.”
Mr Walshaw highlighted the work of one staff member, Vincent, who has worked to translate critical government information for migrant communities in the region.
“Many of them cannot speak English and they have been benefiting from his translation – he has been head down getting many documents translated,” he said.
“They have also been affected by scams during this period and we have set-up a program where they can email Red Cross and we can inform them that it is a scam.”
