Families receive vital supplies before a cyclone hits the coast and cuts off supply roads.
The remote communities of Coen, Aurukun, Laura, Hope Vale, Wujal Wujal and Mossman Gorge received an early delivery of Christmas hampers and essential foods this week, with Cape York Partnership’s (CYP) Mayi Market food delivery beating Cyclone Jasper and major road closures.
Staff loaded its 14-pallet Mayi Market truck with 62 Christmas hampers and six tonnes worth of fresh fruit and vegetable boxes, meat, dry goods and essential items, including toilet paper, washing powder, personal hygiene and cleaning products ready to hit the road late Monday 11 December.
More than 160 families are now set for the Christmas holiday period and the start of the wet season.
General Manager of Cape Operations, Shonell Gohier said the team had been carefully monitoring the path of Cyclone Jasper before urgently pulling forward its last delivery of the year.
“We knew we’d only have a short window of time to work with, so it was an amazing team effort to bring it all together and ensure the drivers were well prepared for the 29-hour round trip.
“By Sunday morning we were up against it with Jasper on its way and this amazing team came together, talked through what might happen and what was achievable, worked through what was needed from a support level in each of the communities, became first-class weather readers and devised a plan that was put into action.
“Our superhero drivers Lisa and Col went above and beyond, arriving in Aurukun before sunrise on Tuesday, with the assistance of our committed colleagues based in our communities.
“While there were a couple of sleepless nights during the planning, the trip was carefully coordinated from our Cairns office to ensure they were in front of the weather the whole time.
“You don’t find more dedicated people willing to help others.
I was so worried, but it was a blessing from God that by Tuesday I got to pick up my Mayi Market food. It was the extra food stock that I urgently needed for my household.”
- Cheyenne Olbar, Wujal Wujal
Mayi Market Project Coordinator Lisa Howard and Mayi Market driver Colin Nance departed Cairns late on Monday 11 December after working with Cairns-based Total Food Network and Campbell’s Wholesale to ensure all goods were ready to go.
“It was clear to us on Saturday that we had to get things moving, so we worked really hard with our Cairns suppliers to pack the truck and prepare for our journey,” Miss Howard said.
“We couldn’t bear the thought of communities being without essential supplies, and the smile on people’s faces when we arrived is something we’ll never forget. Everyone really came together to receive the goods and unload the truck at each stop. There was a great sense of camaraderie, as we all bandied together.
“Knowing that families in the Cape are now set for Christmas and are well stocked with healthy, delicious food, made it a really special trip,” she said.
About Mayi Market:
Mayi Market is a not-for-profit Indigenous initiative of Cape York Partnership. Its focus is on delivering quality, fresh food to remote Cape York communities at fair prices. Established in 2020, it aims to combat high food prices and improve access to nutritious food, contributing to the health and wellbeing of these communities. Deliveries are made fortnightly in a refrigerated truck that was purchased courtesy of a generous donation from Rio Tinto. With this truck coming to the end of its viable service, Mayi Market are looking for partnerships to purchase a new truck to continue this invaluable service to our remote communities.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information visit The Mayi Market website or click the button below to donate to Mayi Market.