Barbara Carroll, known as Nan Barb, takes donated clothing from her Donnybrook op shop to charities and women’s refuges in northern Western Australia. The ABC’s September profile described regular journeys of more than 2,000 kilometres by the 84 year old. [N1]
These are not simply deliveries to unfamiliar places. Barbara grew up in Nullagine and has longstanding connections in the communities she visits. Her granddaughter Tara sometimes travels with her. [N1]
And people look after Barbara too. Community advocate Shahenaz Kouzi recalled giving her eskies of ice when the van’s air conditioning failed. The report also described family and community fundraising for a more suitable vehicle. [N1]
That is the part we would not want to lose. There are people donating, people transporting, local organisations distributing and people helping the person doing the driving.
The care moves through a set of relationships. It can also come back.