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With her daughter stuck in Sydney’s lockdown, Zenaida Querubin would have spent Christmas Day alone if it weren’t for St John’s Care community lunch. She is no stranger to the event which sees hundreds gather in Reid to enjoy a Christmas feast. She has frequented it for the past 14 years. “Without this organisation I’d be crazy,” Ms Querubin said. “Christmas really is the loneliest day of the year.” Around 250 of Canberra’s most vulnerable gather at St John’s Care on Christmas Day for a tasty meal, classic festive tunes and most importantly, good company. The annual event supporting the homeless or isolated in our community ran differently this year of course, with a takeaway lunch and Santa’s appearance a socially-distanced one. St John’s Care acting executive officer Jason Haines said COVID-19 had exacerbated what can already be a lonely time. “On Christmas Day a lot of people find it very, very hard anyway, so this year is no different to any other year in that regard,” he said. “The only thing different is COVID has impacted us all … so we’re going in the same direction but all our boats look different. “This year we’d like to think no one is alone at Christmas.” The Christmas lunch happened outside this year, with “ushers” meandering the lawns to ensure people there alone could be “linked up” with others. The usual festively-decorated tables inside were done away with this year, and everyone was screened upon entry to lessen any risk posed by COVID-19. The day was quieter than expected, which organisers put down to the COVID-19 situation across the border. Mr Haines said the focus this year was on “linking up” people who were isolated with others on the day. “We decided to have ushers that get people to mingle – socially-distanced of course – so people feel included,” Mr Haines said. Mr Haines said beyond a good meal, the lunch provided a sense of community and reminder no one was alone. Demand for St John’s Care crisis support changed dramatically this year, as a large cohort of people who had never needed their services. READ MORE: “We’ve got people coming in the door now that have … a mortgage and car repayments that have never been to St John’s or any services before and these are the people that we’ve really taken the time to help them navigate what they can do,” he said. He hoped public perception of the people that need St John’s services would move on from “dole bludgers” after a year that changed everything. “I would hope perception would change,” he said. “This can happen to anyone, any of us at any time can lose our jobs and if that’s the case, how would we survive?” On Christmas Eve at St John’s Church, the annual service was also held outside for the first time in more than 170 years. Crowds gathered on the lawns and were encouraged to share the Christmas joy.
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With her daughter stuck in Sydney’s lockdown, Zenaida Querubin would have spent Christmas Day alone if it weren’t for St John’s Care community lunch.
She is no stranger to the event which sees hundreds gather in Reid to enjoy a Christmas feast. She has frequented it for the past 14 years.
“Without this organisation I’d be crazy,” Ms Querubin said.
“Christmas really is the loneliest day of the year.”
Around 250 of Canberra’s most vulnerable gather at St John’s Care on Christmas Day for a tasty meal, classic festive tunes and most importantly, good company.
The annual event supporting the homeless or isolated in our community ran differently this year of course, with a takeaway lunch and Santa’s appearance a socially-distanced one.
St John’s Care acting executive officer Jason Haines said COVID-19 had exacerbated what can already be a lonely time.
“On Christmas Day a lot of people find it very, very hard anyway, so this year is no different to any other year in that regard,” he said.
“The only thing different is COVID has impacted us all … so we’re going in the same direction but all our boats look different.
“This year we’d like to think no one is alone at Christmas.”
The Christmas lunch happened outside this year, with “ushers” meandering the lawns to ensure people there alone could be “linked up” with others.
The usual festively-decorated tables inside were done away with this year, and everyone was screened upon entry to lessen any risk posed by COVID-19.
The day was quieter than expected, which organisers put down to the COVID-19 situation across the border.
Mr Haines said the focus this year was on “linking up” people who were isolated with others on the day.
“We decided to have ushers that get people to mingle – socially-distanced of course – so people feel included,” Mr Haines said.
Mr Haines said beyond a good meal, the lunch provided a sense of community and reminder no one was alone.
Demand for St John’s Care crisis support changed dramatically this year, as a large cohort of people who had never needed their services.
“We’ve got people coming in the door now that have … a mortgage and car repayments that have never been to St John’s or any services before and these are the people that we’ve really taken the time to help them navigate what they can do,” he said.
He hoped public perception of the people that need St John’s services would move on from “dole bludgers” after a year that changed everything.
“I would hope perception would change,” he said.
“This can happen to anyone, any of us at any time can lose our jobs and if that’s the case, how would we survive?”
Crowds gathered on the lawns and were encouraged to share the Christmas joy.
