In a week-to-week battle to get meals out to the elderly and frail during lockdown, Peter English has caught a glimpse of the city's commitment to getting out of the clutches of COVID-19.
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When even more of his own volunteers felt compelled to stop delivering food, the Meals on Wheels Dubbo service manager reached out to other organisations for help.
They included the NSW State Emergency Service which already had deployed members to the frontline at Dubbo Showground where drive-through tests and vaccinations are on offer every day.
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"They've been smashed helping out at the showground with traffic control," Mr English said.
"Same with Dubbo Regional Council staff. They are fully engaged as well.
"We don't want to poach people who are already giving to the community."
An appeal to visiting members of the Australian Defence Force to help feed some of the city's most vulnerable people was met with advice they were flat out testing and vaccinating.
"They were fully employed and that's fine," Mr English said.
Not surprisingly, he turned to a charity of which he is a longtime member.
The Rotary movement at Dubbo sprang to its feet with up to 15 men and women from the Dubbo Macquarie and Dubbo South clubs eager to lend a hand.
They will join members of the Dubbo West club who Mr English says "volunteer on a frozen run regularly".
"Well over 200 clients" are getting the meals they ordered from people who have had at least one COVID-19 vaccination if not two.
"It is quite imperative to reduce everyone's risk," the service manager said.
At the end of the week, Meals on Wheels Dubbo staff will check "who is available" when trying to complete next week's delivery roster.
Mr English says he knows of other organisations to call on if need be, including the Neighbourhood Centre where staff are on standby.
The service manager is "very, very thankful for the volunteers staying with us".
"They are our lifeline in continuing to support the elderly and frail in the community," he said.
The decision of other volunteers to heed the danger posed by the virus is not questioned.
"We fully support them in their decision to do so," Mr English said.
The service manager is refusing to fuss about an inability to make long-term plans during a lockdown which he thinks could extend into October.
"You can't predict what's going to happen," he said.
"You work through every problem as it comes along.
"A week is a long time in a pandemic."
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