Through the Centering Our Voices project, we are sharing the stories and experiences of women in the Loddon Mallee Region that are living with a compromised immune system, or caring for someone with compromised immunity through the COVID-19 pandemic.
We know that the pandemic has hit our communities hard, but for some groups and individuals there can be increased risks and insecurities associated with COVID, due to age and/or underlying health conditions.
Women’s Health Loddon Mallee encourages everyone to get vaccinated, wear masks indoors and socially distance when you can as a protective measure for our whole community, particularly those that are more vulnerable to serious illness or death as a result of contracting COVID-19.
For more information about vaccines and other protective measures, please visit the Victorian Government’s COVID-19 website.
Episode 1: Melissa’s Story
Melissa is 52 years of age and lives in Castlemaine. She has a spinal cord injury and a compromised immune system. Here she speaks with Jasper Peach about her experience of living with compromised immunity through the pandemic.
Centering Our Voices – Melissa – Written – Read a summarised version of the interview.
Listen on SoundCloud:
Episode 2: Emma’s Story
Emma is 37 years old and she lives in the Loddon Mallee Region. She has Multiple Sclerosis. The medication that she takes for her condition causes her immune system to be less effective. This means that she is more at risk of becoming seriously ill or dying as a result of contracting COVID-19. Here Jasper Peach interviews here about what life has been like since Victoria started lifting pandemic protections.
Centering Our Voices – Emma – Written – Read a summarised version of the interview.
Listen on SoundCloud:
Episode 3: Tracey’s Story
Tracey recently turned 50 and is a registered nurse. She works at Castlemaine Hospital in the acute ward and on the Covid vaccination clinic. She lives with her husband who has pancreatic cancer and is fearful that if she caught COVID she could pass it on to her husband who is at an increased risk of becoming very ill or dying as a result of contracting COVID. Here she talks to Jasper Peach about her experiences living through the pandemic.
Centering Our Voices – Tracey – Written – Read a summarised version of the interview.
Listen on SoundCloud:
Episode 4: Eden’s Story
Eden is 31. She is an artist living and working in Castlemaine. She lives with a rare condition that impacts her immune system. She speaks here with Jasper Peach about how COVID and living with her condition has impacted her life.
Centering Our Voices – Eden – Written – Read a summarised version of the interview.
Listen on SoundCloud:
Episode 5: Christine’s Story
Christine is in her early 60s. She has been living in Bendigo for just over three years. She lives with some complex health issues – she is immunosuppressed following a transplant she had six years ago following a couple of years of various treatment including cancer treatment. Here she speaks to Jasper Peach about how isolated life has been for her through the pandemic.
Centering Our Voices – Christine – Written – Read a summarised version of the interview.
Listen on SoundCloud:
Episode 6: Trace’s Story
Trace is in her late 50s. She is a writer and illustrator, living in Castlemaine. She lives with a number of health conditions that mean that her immune system is compromised. Here she talks with Jasper Peach about what life has been like for her living through the pandemic.
Centering Our Voices – Trace – Written – Read a summarised version of the interview.
Listen on SoundCloud:
Episode 7: Dionne’s Story
Dionne is 47 years old. She has lived in Bendigo for the last 17 years. She has an autoimmune arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis which affects the spine and the pelvis, but it mainly attacks the immune system. A lot of my medication she takes for her condition affects affects her immune system as well. This makes her more susceptible to becoming seriously ill or dying as a result of contracting COVID. Here Jasper Peach interviews here about what life has been like for her since the pandemic started and since Victoria’s pandemic protections have been lifted.
Centering Our Voices – Dionne – Written – Read a summarised version of the interview.
Listen on SoundCloud:
Episode 8: Karen’s Story
Karen is 60 years old and lives in Dunolly. She lives with a number of health conditions, which mean that she is more at risk of becoming seriously ill or dying as a result of contracting COVID-19. Here she is interviewed by Jasper Peach about what it has been like living through a pandemic with a compromised immune system.
Centering Our Voices – Karen – Written – Read a summarised version of the interview.
Listen on SoundCloud: