1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,360 Speaker 1: It is that time of year again. We're edging closer 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 1: and closer to Christmas. Can you believe it is the 3 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: first of November. It's wild and tom forst to really 4 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: start thinking about Christmas, but firming up those plans and 5 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: getting organized, and we are being encouraged to think about 6 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:17,919 Speaker 1: those who might be doing it tough. Now. Tory Star 7 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 1: runs an initiative that strives to give all territory sceniors 8 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,959 Speaker 1: a gift for Christmas, but it does rely on donations 9 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,159 Speaker 1: to make it possible. And Tory joins me on the 10 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: line right now. 11 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 2: Good morning Tory, Good morning Katie. 12 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 3: Good morning to listeners. 13 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:38,559 Speaker 1: Tory tell us a little bit more about Secret Center. 14 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 2: For the Aged. 15 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,199 Speaker 3: Okay, so we're at it again this year. This is 16 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:47,520 Speaker 3: every year since twenty sixteen, so and this year will 17 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 3: be our biggest ever year hopefully. 18 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 1: I was wondering how many years it had been going 19 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: for that is ages. 20 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, So we started off in twenty sixteen just 21 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 3: doing the Darwin and Palmerston h Q facilities and from 22 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 3: there we've grown every year to cover the entire Northern Territory. 23 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 2: How wonderful. 24 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: So to those out there listening who don't know a 25 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: huge amount about it. 26 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 2: Talk us through how it all works. 27 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 3: So basically, we collect up donations of gifts that would 28 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:21,040 Speaker 3: be suitable for elderly age care residents and then we 29 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 3: distribute them out to all of age care facilities and 30 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:28,039 Speaker 3: all of the in home age care participants through the 31 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 3: regional councils across the Northern Territory, so everyone gets a gift. 32 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 2: How many gifts are you trying to get this year? 33 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 3: We're at to almost fifteen hundred gifts this year, so 34 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 3: this is our biggest. Last year we did twelve hundred 35 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 3: and sixty two. 36 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 2: Oh wow, Tory, How do you get all the gifts? 37 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 1: How do you get them all out to all of 38 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: those seniors. 39 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 3: Well, we accept cash donations through our go fundme and 40 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 3: then I go shopping. We also accept physical donations at 41 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 3: four different drop off points this year Starwin, So people 42 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 3: would like to do the shopping for me and donate 43 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 3: physical donations. There's a list on our Facebook page Operation 44 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 3: Hecare Operating Secrets down Ahecare anti and you can drop 45 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 3: them off to We've got to drop off points, said Palmerston. 46 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 3: At the office of Murray Clare Booth the MLA in 47 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 3: the Palmstan Shopping Center, and we've got the opposite leaf 48 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 3: and Offro MLA in the Zakoli Shopping Center. If you're 49 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 3: in the Northern Suburbs, you can drop them off to 50 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 3: the office of Rerent Potter MLA in the Perrap shop. 51 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 3: And we've also got the Botonic Gardens gift shop accepting 52 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 3: physical donations this year as well. 53 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 2: How good. 54 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 1: Now, what kind of gifts do you know? If people 55 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: want to donate gifts, what kind of things can they 56 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 1: can they actually donate or what do you go out 57 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:51,119 Speaker 1: there and purchase? 58 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 3: Basically things that you think in that and pop would 59 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 3: like for Christmas. So we do things like toilet trees. 60 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 3: We do things like hand creams, a polish as, mail files, 61 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:06,800 Speaker 3: crossword puzzle books. We do knee blankets, beenies for the 62 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 3: guys in Central Australia. Yeah, trinkets, little little despritty trinkets 63 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:14,960 Speaker 3: that they might be able to have in their room, 64 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 3: coloring books and tensils. Just things that are practical and 65 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 3: pretty and that you think that an older person would 66 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 3: like to receive. If you were going to buy a 67 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 3: present for your grandparents, Tori, what. 68 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 2: Made you get all of these started? 69 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: Because it is no easy feat delivering such a high 70 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: volume of gifts right across the Northern Territory. Going through 71 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 1: the whole process to make this happen. What made you 72 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 1: get these started? 73 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 3: My grandmother was actually an age care facility into Woomba, 74 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 3: and we obviously lived in the Northern Territory, so we 75 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 3: really weren't there as often as we would have liked 76 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 3: to have been, and quite often on special occasions like 77 00:03:56,520 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 3: Christmases and Birthdays. So that was kind of my motivation 78 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 3: to kick this off was knowing that there were people 79 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 3: sitting in he care facilities at Christmas time who potentially 80 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 3: didn't have loved ones near or might just need a 81 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 3: little bit of a pick me up. And Christmas is 82 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 3: often so focused on kids we forget that there's other 83 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 3: demographics of our society that would love just to receive 84 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:20,480 Speaker 3: a little something too. 85 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:23,039 Speaker 2: Yeah, oh, that's so true. 86 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:25,719 Speaker 1: It's such a wonderful thing that you do to organize 87 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 1: this every years. 88 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:29,039 Speaker 2: It is phenomenal. 89 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 1: You know, it's such a huge logistical feat. 90 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 2: How do you manage that side of it. 91 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 3: We're really lucky to have the support of a couple 92 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 3: of local Darwin businesses that help us distribute out the 93 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:45,600 Speaker 3: gifts from Darwin. So chat Air helps us cover our 94 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:49,039 Speaker 3: East Arnham region by flying our boxes over there, and 95 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 3: Gilbert's Transport actually provide the transport to get all of 96 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:56,479 Speaker 3: our REMOVALSS boxes and there's a lot down to the 97 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:00,599 Speaker 3: central region and then the regional councils help us distribute 98 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 3: them from there as well as a couple of the 99 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 3: MLAs who pick them up and go and deliver them 100 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 3: for us. So it is a bit of a logistical 101 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 3: feat to spread it all out across everywhere, but yeah, 102 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 3: we get it done and we're just really grateful that 103 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:15,720 Speaker 3: we have those businesses who come to the party every 104 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 3: year and help us. 105 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 1: Toy, do you get into those age care facilities yourself 106 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: and what's the reaction from some of those scene is 107 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 1: in when you do deliver those Christmas gifts? 108 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, gratitude, they're really really grateful. We get really good 109 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 3: feedback every year the different facilities will send us an 110 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 3: email and some photos and just say thank you so much. 111 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 3: They're really well received and really appreciated. 112 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,840 Speaker 1: Tory tell us again where people can donate if they're keen, 113 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: and when those gifts are going to start getting delivered. 114 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 3: So if you want to deliver physical goods. You can 115 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:56,039 Speaker 3: deliver them to the offices of Murray Claire Boosti and 116 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 3: Leaf and of Piero in Palmerston and the office of 117 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 3: Brent Potter pro Op or the Botanic Gardens gift Shop. 118 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:06,599 Speaker 3: If you wanted to donate funds, there's a link to 119 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 3: a GoFundMe on the Facebook page, which again is Operation 120 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 3: Secret fanner Age Care MP and we'll start distributing. Hopefully 121 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 3: we're going to have the first lot of presence to 122 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 3: head to Alice Springs in about a week's time, so 123 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 3: they'll start making their way through the channels to get 124 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 3: out to people's By. 125 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 1: Christmas, toy star, What an absolute star you are organizing 126 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 1: all of this. 127 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 2: I just reckon it's wonderful. 128 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 1: It's such a great thing for you to do, really 129 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:37,919 Speaker 1: out of the kindness of your heart and you know 130 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:39,599 Speaker 1: from your own personal experience. 131 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 2: Good on you and thanks so much for chatting with 132 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 2: us today. 133 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 3: Thanks a lot, Katie, have a great day to you too.