84-year-old Australian travels more than 2,000 km to deliver clothing to remote communities
In Australia, 84-year-old Barbara Carroll loads her van with boxes of donated clothing every month and sets off for remote communities in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The owner of a second-hand charity shop in the town of Donnybrook, 200 kilometres south of Perth, usually travels more than 2,000 kilometres on such trips, ABC News Australia reports.
Carroll, known as “Nan Barb” in Donnybrook, delivers clothing to charities and women’s shelters in Carnarvon, Newman, Nullagine and Roebourne. According to her, residents of remote towns cannot always get to a shop to buy clothing. During the long journeys, she listens to country music and prefers to travel alone.
The Nan Goes North initiative
A large quantity of donated clothing from south-western Western Australia accumulated at Carroll’s shop. This prompted her charitable campaign, Nan Goes North. Barbara Carroll grew up in the remote Pilbara community of Nullagine and, according to her granddaughter Tara, has close ties with local people.
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Tara Carroll sometimes accompanies her grandmother on the trips. She noted that life in remote areas limits access to medical services, clothing and other essentials.
Helping organisations in Newman
Community advocate Shahenaz Kuzi from the Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service in Newman, who previously worked at the local women’s shelter, said that both organisations regularly received donations from Carroll. The items included blankets, winter and summer clothing, as well as goods for babies, women and men.
Carroll’s family and community are raising funds for a truck so that she can expand her assistance and more conveniently take a passenger on her trips. According to Carroll, there is not enough room in her van for two people to travel comfortably; her dog Bob usually travels with her.
