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Call Of The Wild

Join us on the road, as we celebrate the compassionate vets and vet nurses of Wildlife Victoria’s Travelling Vet Service, who save the lives of Australian animals every day of the week. Photojournalist Doug Gimesy captures these wildlife rescues in his stunning images: uplifting and heartbreaking all at once.

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Holly Days

Holly Days

Brisbane vendor Holly P shares what she gets up to when she’s away from her pitch – including volunteering, gleeful swimming and making up her own rules to Monopoly!

Monday

On Monday mornings I volunteer at the Royal Brisbane Hospital. My shift is from 9am to 1pm. My main job is going around the wards with another volunteer, with a trolley full of books and magazines. We also have puzzles and colouring-in. We ask patients if they would like to borrow a book or magazine. We also do laundry for some of the patients, in particular for patients who have been at the hospital for a while. Sometimes there may be a patient who, for whatever reason, is not allowed to leave the ward on their own. We take them off the ward to the shop or to get a cup of coffee in the cafeteria. Sometimes they just want to have a chat.

At about 12:30, my work buddy and I have lunch together before finishing our shift. I love volunteering – I find it very rewarding, and it is great to give something back.

Sometimes on Monday afternoons I have a specialist appointment. If I don’t, I like to go for a swim. I am lucky to live in a Brisbane Housing Company unit block opposite the QUT pool and gym, and NDIS covers my membership. I love going swimming and try to go as much as I can. Because I have chronic pain it really helps me to move and stretch and it’s just so relaxing.

Tuesday

Tuesday is my long Big Issue day. I catch the bus into the city around 7am. First, I go to the church where The Big Issue office is. The ladies in the office, Lou and Roxy, are lovely and nothing is too much trouble for them. I stock up on magazines and then head to my pitch. My favourite spot is Post Office Square. I get to my pitch and set up my cart and chair. I watch the people go by, sometimes I call out “Big Issue!” I love people-watching – I like to imagine a bit about the lives of the people who pass by – so this is the perfect job for me. You never really know how the day is going to go. Sometimes I sit for ages, and no-one wants to buy a mag, but then it may get really busy.

My favourite time of the day is lunchtime. Lou or Roxy does a pitch walk, going around saying hi to everyone and checking how we are going. They bring more mags if we need them. They often bring a drink, and a snack to keep us going – like some chocolate or chips. They are very encouraging, and I look forward to their visits.

I finish my shift about 2pm and my NDIS support worker picks me up. I have a number of physical and mental chronic health conditions and receive support from the NDIS. Me and my carer usually go swimming and maybe play a game of Monopoly. I love playing Monopoly and have heaps of my own rules that make the game even more fun. We make sure the apartment is tidy (tidyish I should say – I do like a bit of clutter).

Wednesday

I have a carer from 9am to 2pm on Wednesday. Often, we have appointments, but if not we like to go to Sandgate to the water and go to the lagoon. I have a condition affecting my immune system, where I have low immunoglobulins. I get an infusion of immunoglobulins every three weeks. Without this I would be sick a lot, with nasty infections. I am very grateful to blood donors who make it possible for me to receive these infusions. The infusions usually take about four hours, then I go home and rest.

Thursday

Thursday mornings I go to group therapy. I am doing a program called dialectical behaviour therapy that helps with my PTSD. We learn skills in group to help us manage to live the best life we can. I have group for two-and-a-half hours once a week, and an individual therapy session once a week also. It is a big commitment, but it is helping me enormously.

A carer picks me up from group at 12:30. We get some groceries and then go to my place, and we say hello to my cat, Neville (I am a huge, huge Harry Potter fan). We also watch a bit of Downton Abbey (my favourite show). When the carer leaves at 3pm, I usually go swimming.

Friday

On Fridays I do a lot of exercise, which is good because I eat a lot of chocolate! A carer comes at 7:30 and we go for a swim. Then we go for a walk – my favourite place to walk is Walkabout Creek. It is beautiful there.

At 11:30 the carer drops me off in the city, so I can sell The Big Issue for a few hours. The great thing about The Big Issue, for me, is that I can fit it in around my appointments. Also, if I am sick or can’t make it, I am not letting anyone down like in other jobs.

Doing The Big Issue helps with my medical expenses and my hobbies, and also means I can have my Neville. I got him two months ago, and he’s made my life so amazing. I have a human best friend, but Neville is also my best friend. He sleeps in my bed, he follows me around the house – he’s like a dog.

At 2.30 I catch a bus to Ashgrove where I do exercise physiology for an hour. It is hard work, and by the time I catch the bus home on Fridays I am exhausted.

Every second Friday my brother and sister-in-law come over and we have dinner together. We usually have fish and chips or pizza, and they bring their beautiful doggies.

Saturday

On Saturday mornings I sell The Big Issue at the Kelvin Grove Markets. I have a few regulars, and everyone at the markets is so friendly – I meet some great people. I love it because I get to listen to the live music next to my pitch, and people-watch.

Sometimes on Saturday afternoons, a carer will take me rollerblading. I’m not very good at it, but it is good for my balance. Before I started rollerblading I used to use a stick to walk. But I don’t need it anymore. If I’m not doing anything on Saturday afternoons I go for a swim, and maybe use the bike or the treadmill at the gym.

Sunday

Every second Sunday I have a support worker. We usually go grocery shopping, and then do something fun like going to the movies or playing Monopoly. On the Sundays I don’t have a support worker I go into the city and sell The Big Issue for a few hours. It’s a totally different atmosphere on the weekends and there is so much going on to watch.

So that is my week. It is a good week. Thanks to places like Brisbane Housing Company, NDIS and The Big Issue, I am living my best life.

Holly sells The Big Issue in Brisbane CBD and Kelvin Grove Markets.

First published in Ed#711