1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:04,080 Speaker 1: We know that we're getting closer to Christmas, there is 2 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:07,440 Speaker 1: no doubt about that. And joining me on the line 3 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 1: right now is a wonderful Territorian who makes it her 4 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: mission each year to ensure that Territorians in aged care 5 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 1: receive a gift for Christmas. It is no easy feat, 6 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:23,280 Speaker 1: with hundreds of donations needed, and then there's the logistical 7 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: challenge of distributing them across the Northern Territory. Operation Secret 8 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: Center Aged Care NT organizer Tory Star joins me on 9 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: the line. 10 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 2: Good morning, Tory, Good morning Katie. 11 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,279 Speaker 1: Lovely to have you on the show. And Tory, it's 12 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 1: a bit frightening that we're getting this close to Christmas. 13 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 2: Isn't it? Isn't it? Those social media posts about eight 14 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:50,200 Speaker 2: weeks to Christmas certainly like a little bit of anxiety 15 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 2: for me. 16 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly. Well, they do it for everybody, I think, 17 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: making sure that they're organized. But you've got way more 18 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: to organize than the rest of us with Operation Secret 19 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: Santa Age Care. Tory, how many gifts are you anticipating 20 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:07,039 Speaker 1: that you're going to need this year? 21 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:11,039 Speaker 2: Well, last year we did just over sixteen hundred presents, 22 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 2: so we're anticipating that will be around the same figure. 23 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 2: We covered all reaches of the Northern Territory, including almost 24 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:22,679 Speaker 2: all of the remote communities. So that's the goal again 25 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 2: this year. Let's see if we can exceed it. 26 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 1: So what kind of donations are you seeking and how 27 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 1: far and wide are they going to go? 28 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 2: So they go right through every corner of the Northern Territory, 29 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:39,960 Speaker 2: through all of our local government bodies in various corners 30 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 2: of the territory. And we look for things that your 31 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 2: grandparents might like, so things like socks, blankets, beamie scars. 32 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 2: We arek for little knickknacks and things that can decorate rooms. 33 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 2: Last year we actually had a local childcare center donate 34 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 2: a whole bunch of their kids' art, which was really 35 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 2: well received for brightening up room. So lots of lovely 36 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 2: finger paintings to pop in the bags and a little 37 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 2: coming extra. But basically our rule is if your grandparents 38 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 2: would like to receive it, ye, not food, alcohol or flammable. 39 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 2: We love it. 40 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: I love that idea of the childcare centers as well 41 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 1: donating the art that's beautiful. That would have been so nice, 42 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:21,959 Speaker 1: you know for all the seniors. 43 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 2: Yeah. 44 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,799 Speaker 1: Now, in terms of people sort of dropping off those 45 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 1: items or wanting to donate, what's the best thing that 46 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 1: they can do. 47 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 2: Well, they've got two options. We have a go fundme 48 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 2: link which is live on our Facebook page which is 49 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 2: Operation Secret Stand Aged Care NT, So if people would 50 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 2: like to give a monetary donation, that's the means with 51 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,079 Speaker 2: which they can do it. Alternatively, if they'd like to 52 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 2: drop off physical donations, we also have a post up 53 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 2: there this morning that lists our current drop offs, which 54 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 2: is pretty much every one of the clpmla's in the 55 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:58,359 Speaker 2: top end, and then heading through into November, we'll have 56 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 2: another update as we get other organizations and businesses that 57 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 2: come online throughout November to also accept physical donations. 58 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:08,359 Speaker 1: Tory, tell me what's some of the feedback that you've 59 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 1: received from those in age care when they get those gifts. 60 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 2: Oh, look, they're really really appreciated. It's really nice for 61 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 2: people to know that they're being thought of at that 62 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 2: time of year. So it can be a really lonely 63 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 2: place in age care, particularly if their family are away 64 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:26,920 Speaker 2: down south or you know the tyranny distance in the territory. 65 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 2: So we get really positive feedback from the organizers at 66 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:34,359 Speaker 2: the center. The coordinator, Lovely emails, which I'll quite often 67 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 2: share on the Facebook page. And I've also had discussions 68 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 2: with family members of residents in the age care facilities 69 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 2: who've also expressed gratitude over the fact that their parents 70 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 2: have received a little gift bag at Christmas and that 71 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 2: it was it was really appreciated. 72 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's really nice. 73 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 2: Tory. 74 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: Remind our listeners, why did you start Operation Secret Center. 75 00:03:57,440 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 2: I started this as a little bit of a project 76 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 2: because my big kids were away for Christmas. I was 77 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 2: heavily pregnant and a bit emotional, and I wanted to 78 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 2: do something to fill up my December. And I certainly 79 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 2: filled out my December. And this is actually the tenth 80 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 2: year that I'll have done it, so I've filled up 81 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:18,039 Speaker 2: the next ten December. So now I. 82 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:21,040 Speaker 1: Laughed because I think you want something done, you ask 83 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 1: a busy mum. Right now, I feel like you've got 84 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: all these little You've got apprentices, You've got your kids 85 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: that help you out every Christmas as well, don't you. 86 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 2: I sure do, I assure do. My biggest girl is 87 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 2: my delivery driver. She runs around and picks up all 88 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 2: the donations for me and my biggest boy, he's about 89 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:43,280 Speaker 2: to turn eighteen. He's my muscle, and the little ones 90 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 2: get in there with us when we're packing the bags 91 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 2: and run around and help so and I've also got 92 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:51,279 Speaker 2: an army of volunteers but get in contact with me 93 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 2: through the Facebook page as well, who come in over 94 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 2: their weekends, give up their weekends and help us pack 95 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 2: literally hundreds and hundreds of present. 96 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 1: What a beautiful thing that you and I mean we 97 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 1: are sort of out. We're eight weeks out I guess 98 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 1: from Christmas now, so wonderful time to you know, to 99 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: anybody out there listening to start thinking about either going 100 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 1: and purchasing gifts that they feel might be appropriate to 101 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 1: donate or making a monetary donation. I know that there's 102 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 1: a lot of people listening that will really want to 103 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: get involved in terms of the distribution of gifts. Tory 104 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: talk me through. I mean you mentioned your daughter there 105 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 1: and her being the delivery driver, but took me through 106 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:33,599 Speaker 1: that distribution and what's involved. 107 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 2: Every year. Oh so, we have a country Women's Association 108 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 2: in Stuart Park have given me their space free to 109 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,839 Speaker 2: use every year to pack those presents. So we have 110 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 2: an army of volunteers who come in and pack up 111 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 2: hundreds of them help us box them up and then 112 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 2: they are distributed throughout the Northern Territory by some amazing organizations. 113 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 2: Centurion Transport take our Alice Springs runs down every year. 114 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 2: We've had chart Air help us get gets over to 115 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 2: Norland Boy as well as Air North. We have toc 116 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 2: Transport that takes them down to the Catherine region as well, 117 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:15,480 Speaker 2: and from there they're then distributed out through well bill 118 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:18,039 Speaker 2: Yan and Alice Springs actually picks up all the presents 119 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,479 Speaker 2: from Centurion distributes them out from me around Alice Spring. Yeah, 120 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 2: and they go out to the local government organizations and 121 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,479 Speaker 2: then they as they provide the federally funded in home 122 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 2: age care out to the rural community, they take the 123 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 2: presence out with them and distribute them out there. Well, 124 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 2: they do make it out through a massive network, Yeah, 125 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 2: but they make it to every single corner of the 126 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:41,120 Speaker 2: Northern Territory. 127 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 1: How lovely and how lovely for all of those seniors 128 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: then to receive that Christmas gift. I think it's such 129 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 1: a nice thing. You know that you've started and it's 130 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:53,840 Speaker 1: been going how many years now, ten years? 131 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 2: Ten? This is our tenth our tenth round ten years. 132 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:00,840 Speaker 1: Will Tory remind us of again. We'll catch up with 133 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:02,719 Speaker 1: you over the next few weeks. We'll make sure that 134 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: we get some regular updates so that we can make 135 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: sure that you know that all of these seniors do 136 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:11,559 Speaker 1: receive a beautiful gift for Christmas. But where can people 137 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 1: go to get any information or if they you know, 138 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 1: if they've heard a little bit of this and they're thinking, oh, 139 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 1: I want to find out more, where's the best place 140 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: to go. 141 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 2: Our Facebook page is our Center of All Truth. So 142 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 2: that's Operation Secret Centner Aged Care and. 143 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 1: T Well Tory Star. It is lovely to speak to 144 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 1: you this morning. Thank you so much for your time. 145 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: You're going to be a busy lady over the coming weeks. 146 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 2: Thanks very much. Katie always appreciate it. 147 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 1: Thank you, no worries at all, Thanks so much.