I find it absolutely mind-blowing just how isolated some families are.

Vivienne Martin, Connect Marrickville

In the gentrified  area of Marrickville, the pandemic has hit some families hard.  Families in unacceptable  poverty with few resources, and in deep isolation.   So much so that some dare not leave their homes for fear of Covid 19.  

it’s a startling fact about an area where  there is much wealth.  Though that’s the complicated story of the demise of working class neighbourhoods across the inner west.

This isolation and disadvantage is what Vivienne Martin sees everyday in her role as local facilitator of Connect Marrickville–a community centre she co runs with Lindy Alwis, They’re based at local primary school, Marrickville West.

I caught up with Vivienne recently and asked about the work Connect does.  I hope you enjoy the conversation.

Credits:

Music track:  Music by Yousoupha Sidibe, courtesy of the Free Music Archive under a Creative Commons license, 2018 

Sound recording of street atmos: Smellor123, Soft ambience of street from interior, Leeds, UK 2017