A RIVERLAND volunteer group has decided to postpone its annual general meeting (AGM) due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Barmera Red Cross president Jeanette Staehr said the group’s AGM, originally planned for this week, is now scheduled to take place in October due to difficulties meeting social distancing requirements.
Ms Staehr said fundraising by the group was also currently suspended.
“One of the main roles of the Red Cross is to fundraise, and for the most part we did that through bingo, which isn’t happening at the moment,” she said.
“We would make sandwiches and slices and things to sell, but we can’t do that either.”
Earlier this year the group feared having to go into recess due to current leadership looking to step down and a lack of new members prepared to take over.
But after the installation of a bench in honour of long-time Red Cross member Diane Tillett outside of the Barmera library and an article in the Murray Pioneer last month, Ms Staehr said she was “greatly encouraged” by several locals expressing interest in joining.
“Despite our initial expectation that we may have to go into recess, we are now more optimistic that we can continue,” she said.
“Thanks to the little publicity push, we now have the prospect of some new members.
“I just wanted to say thank you to the Murray Pioneer for the article and for stirring some interest, and now we may not have to go into recess.”
For more information or to get involved with the Barmera Red Cross, call Jeanette Staehr on 0428 882 551.