Gaye Martin walks into a cafe in Melbourne's northern suburbs to meet a group of women.
At first glance, the meeting looks like a routine gathering for tea or coffee. But this group of women has a specific goal – fighting social isolation. And it was created by a dedicated volunteer, Martin.
She says the idea came to her after she retired and saw how many people in her area felt lonely. Through social media and the messages she spread, Martini turned her local café into a club to help other women socialize.
While there is no reliable data on loneliness problems in specific locations, Martini is not alone in noticing the trend of social isolation in areas around Australia.
Craigieburn's Deputy Mayor, Naim Kurt, says he identified this problem during conversations with residents.
And through regular weekly meetings at the cafe in Craigieburn, the women have managed to secure a support network.
After long conversations, accompanied by tea or coffee, the night at this club always ends with dancing, with messages and messages written for each participant, and with a sense of interaction within the community.
