Manjimup’s fab five praised

Manjimup shire’s community services COVID-19 recovery team has been nominated for the WA Regional Achievement and Community Awards.

The Making a Difference Award acknowledges and celebrates the commitment governments make in achieving or participating in positive activities that empower positive change in their local community.

Working collaboratively with existing charity organisations and support providers within the shire’s four towns, the newly formed recovery team identified emerging hardship needs in the community and kept in contact with individuals and businesses impacted by the pandemic.

Since beginning in March, the COVID-19 recovery team has worked an approximate 2640 hours on this matter, in addition to covering their normal portfolios.

“Through a successful Lotterywest grant, so far the shire has been able to financially support 166 individuals/families with 438 specific requests for relief, enabling the shire to provide 45 local businesses with an additional income of $56,222,” the application said.

Throughout the pandemic, the recovery team has worked with the combined churches, St Vincent de Paul Emergency Relief Manjimup, AccordWest, community resource centres throughout the shire, family centres in Manjimup and Northcliffe and community referral agents.

During the pandemic, the COVID-19 recovery team set up shop in the PowerUp Museum, which allowed them to socially distance and still work.