EVERY morning at Beaconsfield a small band of locals is supporting each other through the arduous waiting and also making the media more comfortable.
The small band shuns public recognition and is reluctant to talk to the myriad media outlets that have besieged the town.
Only wishing to be described as a ‘local volunteer’ one woman said there was no single reason why they ‘do the rounds every morning.’
‘We just want to be there for people, I think that’s what it is.’’
‘’My involvement is with the recovery centre and doing the rounds with the media.’’
Doing the rounds involves removing rubbish, supplying hot soup and boiled lollies to the media centre from as early as 6.30am.
Volunteers manning the community recovery centre were originally operating on a three shift rotational basis but as the rescue continues an extra shift has been added.
‘’That means we do a six-hour shift.’’
Some of the volunteers also hold down full time jobs.
‘’I only came in on the tail end after they found the two guys,’’ she humbly adds.
The community recovery centre, which is off limits to the media, also offers a social worker for those who need someone to talk to.
‘’The resources are there for anybody who needs them.’’
‘’That’s where some of the miners’ families were initially as they waited for news.’’
‘’All of my time has been spent at the recovery centre, the only time I have been to the council chambers based command centre was last Friday to pay my rates.’’
This kind of light-hearted response in the town’s moment of need typifies Beaconsfield residents.
Other locals are contributing in their own special way.
‘’Some of the hotels are supplying meals to rescuers and the recovery centre.’’
A local supermarket proprietor is also helping the cavalcade of cameramen around the mine.
‘’I don’t have any pallets anymore as I have lent them all to those guys because their tripods are sinking into the mud.’’
‘’I sure hope they will bring them all back afterwards as it will be one hell of a job to go and get them.’’
