Margaret and John* have lived what they describe as “an ordinary life.” They’ve worked hard, built a home, raised a family and done what was expected of them.
Now, both 81, they find themselves relying on food relief to get by as cost-of-living becomes unaffordable on the Age Pension.
“I’ve heard people say, ‘oh you pensioners, you’re bludging on society’,” says Margaret.
“But we worked, and we paid our taxes and did everything we were supposed to. I have paid tax since I was 15 right through to retirement.”
Shockingly, Margaret and John are among the 1 in 4 Australian retirees struggling to afford the basics. Having spent much of their working life before compulsory superannuation, the Age Pension promised them a comfortable retirement.
“Superannuation wasn’t even heard of in my day,” says Margaret. “When they [the government] first started the pension, they said part of your wages, when you’re working, is for your pension.”
Today the couple’s Pension Fund barely covers their rent, bills, groceries and health costs associated with John’s diabetes and Parkinson’s diseases and Margaret’s history of heart attacks.
“The problem with pensions is it’s not quite enough,” explains John. “But if you get a rise in your pension, then every other greedy person in the world wants to take it off you. And they manage to.
“We got a rise a while back of – I think it was about – $6 something, and our rent went up $18. So, you really lost, you didn’t gain.”
“You can’t do much about it, though,” adds Margaret. “You’ve just got to manage.”
A life of hard work and grit
John, who grew up in the small town of Briagolong in rural Victoria, worked hard to pull himself out of a childhood defined by poverty, determined to give his wife and 3 daughters the life he wasn’t afforded.
As a child, his family had so little that he and his 6 siblings were forced to attend school “barefoot”, “no shoes, no socks”. They were nicknamed “the ferals”.
“He didn’t have a good upbringing,” says Margaret of John’s early life. “But he fixed himself up.”
During their working lives the pair held down many individual careers – John as a firefighter, sawman in a logging company and then warehouse manager, and Margaret as a secretary and personal assistant – as well as joint business ventures.
However, despite a life of hard work and grit, the couple’s retirement has brought them little rest and reprieve, as they are forced to meticulously manage budgets and even go without.
“Someone told us about [Uniting] and I thought, ‘well, I’m not too proud’,” says Margaret. “Every now and again you need a bit of help.”
Attending Uniting’s emergency relief service in Sale once a week has helped the couple stretch their budget and make sure they aren’t going without.
“There’s an Irish lass there, she is just so lovely, and she just makes you welcome and at ease,” says Margaret. “She gets to know you, and knows your name, and when you come in makes a bit of a fuss of you.”
The additional support has ensured the couple have the basics they need to stay well.
“Without Uniting we would be struggling”, says John.
“It’s fresh vegetables and milk and bread, and staples that you need that are expensive,” adds Margaret.
A cycle of care and compassion
While seeking support for themselves, Margaret and John always continue to think of the needs of others, making sure to share the food they receive. Among the recipients is an elderly neighbour who is “too proud” to ask for help, and a young mother working nightshifts to support her child.
“I like sort of sharing it,” says Margaret. “Not keeping it all for yourself. I think just a few groceries will help them a lot.”
Through attending Uniting’s service, Margaret and John have become aware of the severe need in the Gippsland community.
“[The service means] everything to some people,” says Margaret. “You know, they wouldn’t have a decent meal otherwise.”
“Uniting definitely has a place,” says John. “They very much help.”
Recognising that Uniting’s emergency relief pantries are stocked by and donations, Margaret says people’s generosity is “doing a lot of good in the community”, especially at Christmas time.
She recalls her own experience of having only $20 to spare one Christmas for her family of 5.
“Make a donation, you’re doing a good thing,” says Margaret.
“Even just to have a Christmas pudding would be fantastic for some people.”
Donations to the Food For Families Appeal help keep Uniting’s emergency relief pantries stocked with essential non-perishable food and household items, ensuring people facing financial hardship can access support close to home.
*Margaret and John have generously shared their story. Their names have been changed to protect their identities.
