COVID-19 Knows No Bounds: Tong De Association Stands United with Boundless Compassion
On 20th June, the Adelaide Chinese COVID-19 Mutual Aid Group hosted an appreciation event at Paul’s 218. The event aimed to express gratitude to fellow community members who generously supported others during the pandemic. Volunteers from the Chinese COVID-19 Mutual Aid Group, beneficiaries, and guests all joined in the event.
In the early 2020, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the Australian government’s directive on February 1st, requiring all Chinese nationals returning from mainland China to undergo a two-week home quarantine to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. In response, Tong De Association took the lead on the day the quarantine policy was implemented to establish the “Adelaide Chinese COVID-19 Mutual Aid Group.” The aim was to assist Chinese nationals returning to Adelaide during the pandemic by providing support with food and essential supplies through purchasing and delivery services.
Once established, the group quickly attracted hundreds of members, including not only individuals undergoing self-isolation but also numerous volunteers. These volunteers proactively organised themselves into regional teams, providing dedicated assistance to isolated households by procuring essential groceries and supplies.
The event began with a warm welcome from Anna, President of Tong De Association and organiser of the Adelaide Chinese Community Anti-Pandemic Assistance Group.
Next, members of the assistance group management team took the stage, introducing themselves to the audience:
Anna: Oversees the overall operation of the assistance group, liaising with government bodies, medical institutions and businesses. She’s also in charge of sourcing and distributing anti-epidemic supplies and handling external communications.
Jingxiang: Lead volunteer, managing daytime deliveries and coordinating with Asian supermarkets. In her downtime, she handles group management duties. She holds the record for the most deliveries in a single day, completing 12 purchases and deliveries.
Xiaoyan: Leads a team of nurses, providing information on pandemic prevention measures, and quarantine requirements, and addressing health-related queries. She’s also teaching the right way to wear masks and wash hands.
Lao Cai: Manages group information during quarantine, facilitating communication between quarantined individuals and volunteers, maintaining order, filtering out inappropriate content and ads, soothing negative emotions, and maintaining a lively atmosphere within the group.
The management team members each played their part according to their roles, working alongside volunteers in the support group to lend a hand to those in quarantine and tackle their pressing needs during isolation.
In the early days of the pandemic response, when understanding of the situation was limited, the management team didn’t just handle buying and delivering goods; they also fielded a barrage of questions, shared vital information on staying safe, and offered advice on everything from where to get masks to navigating sick leave policies and finding flight updates. Additionally, they kept the group vibe lively, helping everyone cope with the stress.
In this phase, the Chinese community brought effective pandemic measures from their homeland to Australia. They diligently practiced self-isolation, wore masks, and maintained social distancing. These measures stood the test of time, proving their effectiveness. Through our actions, we helped slow the outbreak in Australia, giving the nation’s pandemic response efforts a valuable head start and earning respect for the Chinese community.
As time went on, many Chinese individuals who completed their quarantine upon returning to Adelaide in February willingly joined the ranks of volunteers, eager to give back to society.
As March approaches, universities were gearing up to resume classes, heralding the return of international students to Australia. Students were making their way back to Adelaide through various channels, and the primary focus of the pandemic assistance group shifted to assisting these students in settling into life and addressing practical challenges during quarantine.
By April, Australia founds itself in a state of border closure, with international flights grounded and mandatory hotel quarantine measures in place. The entire community was in lockdown, and the volunteer work of the pandemic assistance group temporarily came to a halt. The group primarily focused on disseminating pandemic-related information, sharing lifestyle service advice, and light-hearted content.
From June onwards, with the implementation of hotel quarantine policies for incoming travellers, the work of the pandemic assistance group took a hiatus. However, the pandemic situation remained volatile, and the crisis was far from over. Over the past year, various regions in Australia had experienced community cases, with lockdowns becoming commonplace in different states. The primary focus of the pandemic assistance group shifts to disseminating timely pandemic-related information. Additionally, with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines this year, the group’s efforts include promoting vaccine knowledge and vaccination campaigns.
Witnesses Recount Heartwarming Stories from the Pandemic Assistance Period
On February 1st, upon receiving the news of Australia’s requirement for returning Chinese nationals to undergo quarantine, Hou Chao prepared to return to Australia with considerable apprehension about quarantine life. He contacted Anna, the president of Tong De Association, to discuss the feasibility of establishing the Adelaide Chinese Pandemic Assistance Group. With Anna’s support, the Adelaide Chinese Pandemic Assistance Group was promptly established, and the number of members surged to nearly 200 within moments. Many members volunteered immediately, and Ice Age initiated a volunteer chain, while Li Tingxian compiled a detailed list of volunteers for the pandemic assistance group.
February 8th coincided with the Lantern Festival in China, and many group members had already been in quarantine for a week, feeling anxious and homesick. To alleviate the stress of quarantine and infuse the festive spirit, the group launched a Lantern Festival blessing activity starting at 8 o’clock. Members sent out festive red envelopes in the group, creating a red envelope rain that lasted for over an hour, elevating the festive atmosphere to its peak and showcasing the group’s loving and supportive nature.
On February 9th, the last flight to Adelaide had 6 group members who, through internal group communication, found each other at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, joyously reuniting. Witness Hou Chao recounted the situation at the time for everyone.
To alleviate the anxiety of quarantined individuals, the Adelaide Extraordinary Reading Club, led by Guoguo, regularly recommended good books to the group and organised discussions to share reading experiences. Tong De Association committee member Stacy and Guoguo also hosted psychological counselling seminars for quarantined individuals in the group.
To make more Chinese people aware of the pandemic assistance group, Hannie Leong, Miki, Hong Tao, and Anna accepted interviews with the local renowned Australian media ABC News.
Mr. Robert Wang and his wife Nancy from the Australian QVS Group donated a large quantity of hand sanitiser, masks, and protective clothing during the pandemic.
Volunteer Li Tingxian compiled the volunteer list promptly, making it easier for quarantined individuals to connect with volunteers. She is responsible for the city and surrounding areas, dedicating all her free time to serving group members. Especially in March, when a large number of international students returned to Adelaide, many of them rented new apartments. Apart from purchasing food, she also helped them purchase daily necessities. The quantity and variety of items were enormous, and the workload was huge. Sometimes, she worked until late at night to complete the tasks, never complaining. Although we haven’t been able to contact her, we will never forget everything she has done.
In March, as international students returned to Australia for the new semester, various university associations in Adelaide obtained the latest information from the group and promptly provided relevant information to the students, participating in the distribution of health kits provided by the Chinese Consulate General in Adelaide to international students.
During their self-isolation period, Mr. and Mrs. Qiu Kun and Jiang Zhiyong hosted cooking live streams at home. After their isolation ended, they became volunteers. On March 20th, they participated in distributing pots and utensils to international students, providing essential household items.
Hong Tao from the village shared touching stories between volunteers during the isolation period and expressed sincere gratitude to the assistance group and the volunteers.
Numerous businesses in Adelaide have also stepped up to contribute: Mrs. Dou from Nanjing Restaurant not only participated in meal deliveries but also provided masks free of charge to volunteers; Hao’s Patisserie donated desserts; Chinese supermarkets such as Fuxing, Shishang, Yuji, and Leyou offered delivery services.
Since joining the group, Mrs. Cathy Chong has been sharing the latest updates on the epidemic in Australia with the group every day, keeping everyone informed about the situation and government policies. To date, she has sent nearly 300 messages.
Deputy Consul-General He Jiangchuan and Consul Sa Ran from the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Adelaide attended the event and expressed their gratitude to the volunteers for their hard work in pandemic prevention and control. Deputy Consul-General He praised the contributions of the Chinese community to Adelaide and encouraged everyone to continue actively participating in charitable activities.
Deputy Consul-General He improvised a poem on the spot:
“In the face of COVID’s ruthless plight,
Human kindness shines so bright.
Love knows no bounds in South Australia’s land,
With unity and determination, we make our stand.
Together, in solidarity, our spirits are unwavering,
As resilient as rock, our bonds never faltering.
From small streams, great strength is born,
Each contribution, a beacon of hope reborn.
In times of adversity, support from far and wide,
Humanity’s compassion knows no divide.
With unity and love, we’ll overcome any test,
For in this world, kindness knows no rest.”
This poem received enthusiastic applause from everyone, serving as a recognition of the achievements of Tong De Association and the Adelaide Chinese Anti-Epidemic Mutual Aid Group.
Professor Nicola Spurrier, South Australia’s Chief Public Health Officer, was invited to attend the appreciation event. Her intellect and grace captivated the audience, and upon learning about our efforts during the pandemic, she expressed her appreciation and gratitude to the volunteers. She addressed questions from group members regarding the effectiveness of various vaccines and the importance of vaccination, encouraging everyone to actively get vaccinated to achieve the goal of effectively controlling the pandemic.
At the end, the volunteers were presented with certificates of appreciation jointly signed by Honourable Jing Lee, Professor Nicola Spurrier, and Tong De Association President Anna, presented by the Chief Public Health Officer.
The event was organised by Tong De Association, and we extend our gratitude to Paul’s 218 for providing the venue, Precision Medical Group for the delicious food, Han’s Patisserie for the desserts, Jiahong Finance for the decorations and fruit platters, Swan Wing Group for the abundant wine, and Healthy Garden for the nutritious oatmeal and other exquisite gifts.
We gather like a flame and scatter like stars. We help each other and look forward to defeating the pandemic soon!