WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU BANANAS

By Neil Starkie

13 Feb 2025

I joined The Spiers Centre a month ago today and thought I’d mark the one-month anniversary with a first blog post in my new role. Whenever I have written a piece in the past, the inspiration usually comes from somewhere unexpected, an innocuous comment, a chance conversation, or something that pops out from the ordinariness of the day. The inspiration for this piece came in the shape of several trays of bananas!

At The Spiers Centre we are indebted to the support of many organisations and individuals across our northern suburbs network. One of the vital services we provide are packs of fresh fruit, vegetables and other pantry staples that ensure that many families have something with nutritional value to eat. Bananas are a great source of potassium, vitamin C and a raft of other essential vitamins and minerals.

So when the wonderful people at Woolworths Beldon supplied us with the trays of bananas, we were delighted. Being new to TSC, I will freely admit that I wondered how on earth we would get through so many!

There are a couple of things I am quickly learning about this incredible place. The need for our services is unrelenting. Every day we have a steady stream of people coming through our door in the hope that a food parcel is available. Everyone that walks through our door is treated with an unconditional sense of respect and dignity. We see each person as an individual human being not a problem to be managed. “Would you like an apple pie”, “Is there anything else I can help you with” are just two questions I heard last week. That last question is a brave open-ended question to ask. The answer is entirely unpredictable.

One other thing I have learned is that we are not afraid to ask it and equally attuned and resourceful to where it may take us. An elderly gentleman came into reception last week. He recounted that he usually only eats every second day because he can’t afford otherwise. He comes to us when he can. So many people out there are lonely, it is the modern-day epidemic.

We see it as a privilege to spend a little time chatting, and with that privilege comes the gift of listening to, not just hearing, the intimacies of someone’s very personal struggles.

This elderly gentleman had a very specific request to help him with a very personal issue. In that moment, he felt safe to ask if we could help. And this is where I have seen an inspiring amount of compassion, creativity and resourcefulness – within 24 hours, we had three boxes of the product this gentleman needs. It is a short-term solution, but he will have some dignity for that period. But we also talked to him about the long-term support he needs, how to access My Aged Care, how he can get support with food, how we can help him navigate his finances. We don’t see a problem, we see a person.

So back to the bananas. Through the week, the banana stockpile dwindled quite rapidly, although at the end of the week we still had several bunches left. The same ethos runs through our organisation, we look for solutions, whether it is a referral to a service,

sourcing personal hygiene products, or deciding what to do with leftover bananas. We have a resolute spirit to seek to find solutions in order to meet people, not the other way around. So, when life gives you an abundance of bananas, you make smoothies.

Thank you for supporting The Spiers Centre. If you would like to know how you can support us please email info@thespierscentre.com.au