In this heartfelt letter, SECC CEO Kate Melhopt writes candidly about the impact of COVID-19 on herself and the SECC team.
Leading a team of any size is not easy.
Heading up a team during a pandemic can be frightening and isolating.
There are so many unknown variables…
During this time I’ve needed to be honest.
Both with myself and the team.
I’ve had to admit I don’t have the answers.
But this was a journey we needed to take together.
We’ve needed to collaborate and recognise every contribution.
The other week we thanked our volunteers across all our programs.
Each of them adds to the diversity of programs we offer.
Today I give my heartfelt thanks to our staff.
Many have put aside their fears and anxiety to continue providing essential services.
This has not always been easy.
Some have felt the isolation of supporting low numbers of children in empty schools.
Others have done battle in the supermarkets to locate items for our seniors.
They have left feeling dejected.
The emotional drain of undertaking daily wellbeing checks is real.
And providing support and care when your energy is flagging is tough.
Taking our children’s and community services online has been a learning curve too…
I’m so proud of the community connections we’ve sustained and the new ones we’ve made.
I hope you are too.
Many of our staff have talked about how it feels when they’ve made a difference.
A simple phone call, visit, or food delivery can be enough to brighten someone’s day.
The stories we’ve shared with the wider community lately are honest.
But I hope they show how much we all care and believe in the work we’re doing.
So today, I want to say thank you.
Thank you to our incredible team.
Thank you for being responsive and flexible in our changing world.
Thank you for caring – and going the extra mile.
And thank you for saying yes when you could have said no.
THANK YOU.
Kate Melhopt, CEO, South Eastern Community Connect
> Today, delicious gingerbread biscuits from Sydney’s Knickknack Cafe were handed out to staff as a token of Kate’s thanks for all their efforts during this time.
