Bonnie Ritchie screams with laughter as she drives along a rust-red road in Australia’s biggest desert, canines tearing behind and porridge wobbling in the back seat. Ms Ritchie and her great goodfriend Carol Kairn’s laughter is a typical noise in the West Australian neighborhood of Tjuntjuntara. It can be heard as they fire up a neighborhood barbecue, chat with homeowners popping by for breakfast, and take a unusual break to have a cup of tea. The 2 New Zealanders have invested their lives working in aged care and this year, they have come to one of the most remote neighborhoods in Australia, about 700 kilometres east of Kalgoorlie, in the Great Victoria Desert. They have both taken tasks with the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP), which enables many aged and handicapped citizens to be looked after while staying in their neighborhood. “Yee ha,” Ms Ritchie states, setting off on her twice-daily flight providing meals around town. Carol Kairn taught Bonnie Ritchie to drive the buggy they usage to provide meals.(ABC Goldfields: Giulia Bertoglio)She hadn’t driven a buggy prior to showingup in Tjuntjuntjara, so Ms Kairn offered her lessons priorto she got behind the wheel. “That was a bit of a laugh,” Ms Kairn states. “She didn’t desire me to teach her around the neighborhood where individuals might see so I had to take her out to where the pointer was, so she might practise out there.” Now Ms Ritchie is a huge fan of the lorry. “I have enjoyable,” she states. Tjuntjuntjara is amongst Australia’s most remote neighborhoods.(Supplied)A brand-new adventureThere are about 10 regional employees, who aid out when they are offered. Anita Bond is one of them, and today she is behind the wheel, transporting herself and Ms Ritchie to their veryfirst stop. Bonnie Ritchie and Anita Bond providing meals around Tjuntjuntjara. (ABC Esperance: Emily Smith)”When I come from [the WA town of] Leonora I come and assistance,” Ms Bond states. As they pull up, Ms Ritchie gathers a container of porridge from a huge plastic box and then raps on the front door. “Breakfast,” she screams. If the homeowner is not home, she leaves the meal in a blue plastic tub, nailed high on the home so the pets cannot reach it. Ms Ritchie l
Read More.
