Mandy Nolan
COVID-19 shutdowns haven’t just affected businesses; community organisations around the Shire have either stopped completely or restricted their activities.
The loosening of regulations around community gathering has meant that volunteer and social groups are finally able to meet again.
Although some are taking their time to re-establish meetings.
Diane Giddins is the publicity officer for the Mullumbimby Country Women’s Association (CWA) and for VIEW Club.
Mrs Giddins says: ‘Mullum CWA isn’t starting again until August 12, but Brunswick Valley VIEW Club restarts this Thursday (July 9) at the Billinudgel Hotel with a socially spaced luncheon’.
The organisation will comply with requirements, including a register of attendance, and hand sanitising.
‘We are really looking forward to seeing each other in person after three months in lockdown! We had to wait for the head office of VIEW to give us the go-ahead’.
Other organisations, like the Mullumbimby Presbyterian Church, kept services running via Zoom, and while they are now back to church, there is no singing – only humming!
Organisations like the Brunswick Valley Rescue Squad (BVRS) were active during COVID-19 restrictions, responding to emergency call-outs when required.
BVRS secretary, William O’Keefe said ‘We have been able to get back into fortnightly training where we train primarily in vertical rescue and road crash rescue.
‘Our responses include the release of people trapped in motor vehicles and trucks, assists in rural, industrial and domestic accidents and vertical rescue. We don’t forget the animals either, whether they be four-legged or those that fly, we rescue them all.’
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