The 2020 Brisbane Ekka may be cancelled but Indooroopilly charity Jubilee Community Care is still bringing the community together for some Ekka fun.
In a project that has taken a couple of months to plan and prepare, the not-for-profit aged care provider is producing Jubilee Community Care Showbags for its clients. The showbags will be hand delivered to almost 600 clients in the first two weeks of August by Jubilee staff.
The showbags contain a mug, a magnifying bookmark, coffee, tea, a biscuit, a puzzle book, a Reader’s Digest magazine, a magnetic notepad, body lotion, a stamp, a magazine on gardening/bbq recipes/DIY tips, and a shopping bag. Also included is a toilet roll ( so clients don’t run out!) and the staple of any good Ekka showbag – an iconic Bertie Beetle chocolate!
A particularly special item in each bag is a personal message or piece of artwork from the pupils at Holy Family School Indooroopilly. The pupils were invited by Jubilee Community Care to take part in the initiative, also assisting Jubilee in filling the showbags with the lovely goodies.
Jubilee Community Care director Shaun Riley said the idea behind the showbags was to bring some Ekka cheer to clients at a time when many still felt vulnerable and socially isolated.
“The Ekka is one of Brisbane’s biggest community events and, while it has been cancelled this year, we did not want our clients to miss out on some much-needed community cheer,” Mr Riley said.
“Our staff cannot wait to see the smiles on clients’ faces when they deliver the bags to their front doors.
“And to have the pupils and teachers at Holy Family School involved just helped spread that community cheer further. The school was wonderful in helping bring the showbags all together and we are certainly thankful for their time and efforts.”
The showbags included donations gratefully accepted from Reader’s Digest Australia, Hearing Australia, Woolworths, Coles, Dilmah and Food Solutions. Jubilee also gratefully accepted a $5000 donation from Bunnings to help stock the bags.
News of the showbag deliveries has spread. Take a look at the Channel 10 News coverage here and listen to Jubilee director Shaun RIley on ABC Radio Brisbane here.
PHOTO: Jubilee Community Care client Nancy discovers her showbag goodies with support worker Marie in front of the Channel 10 News cameraman. (Credit: Jubilee Community Care)