We are in celebration mode, having reached the milestone of 50,000 cycles for our Remote Laundries Project. The project has been spinning for five years, bringing hope and opportunity to community members and our incredible laundry team members across four sites in the Top End of the Northern Territory.
The impact of 50,000 cycles
Each one of the 50,000 cycles has contributed to the reduction of scabies infections in remote communities, a crucial step in reducing the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD), a 100 per cent preventable condition in remote communities.
Fifth site ready to launch
With the fifth site set to launch in August in the West Arnhem community of Gunbalanya, we eagerly anticipate the project’s extension and its potential impact on another community’s health and economic opportunities.
The launch of our new laundry in Gunbalanya also has significant meaning for one of our current laundry team members, Russell Williams.
Born on Goulburn Island, a small group of islands off Arnhem Land, Oenpelli, or Gunbalanya as it is now known, is his country.
Russell joined the team in 2020, quickly becoming an integral part of the success of our only city-based laundry in Casuarina. It also became a family affair with his uncle Matthew Cooper, an AIG Board director, whom he credits with ‘growing me up’.
Having seen firsthand the importance of the Casuarina laundry for his customers, Russell says it will be “a good thing” for the health of people in Gunbalanya and those locals fortunate to be employed by the Remote Laundries Project, a sometimes-understated benefit of the project for communities.
“I love working, I love the customers, they wave, they say ‘hello’, it makes me feel good, I would be bored if I weren’t here,” says Russell, who has loved working since his first job as a painter on Goulburn Island at 18.
“I love being able to make money so I can buy clothes, food and coffee on my days off,” he says earnestly.
Russell is a bright star for AIG with his colourful fashion, evolving pairs of bright sunglasses, comedic socks, headphones tuned to rap and a big smile on his shifts.
But it hasn’t always been a life full of colour for Russell. Before he joined the laundry team, he had faced many challenges with addiction and a short stint in jail. His previous employer had to let him go as his addiction was interrupting his work. To add to this upheaval, Russell’s mum passed away, which impacted him greatly.
However, AIG and our Remote Laundries Project was a turning point for him, and he now proudly celebrates coming to work and enjoying his new lease on life. He particularly notes meeting the Governor-General of Australia, His Excellency General, the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), with him visiting the laundry in 2021, as a highlight of his job.
We are truly privileged to have Russell on our team. He undoubtedly makes his customers’ day as much as he says they do his.
