A kindness pandemic

Kezz McKenzie surprising Cheryl LeFevre with flowers and a heartfelt message of thanks and appreciation (Rebecca Hosking) 208323_03

By Luke Voogt

Norlane grandmother and “silent achiever” Cheryl LeFevre epitomises what the Barwon Kindness Pandemic is all about, according to page founder Kezz McKenzie.

“She is a really selfless woman who puts everybody before herself,” Kezz told the Independent.

“She has been taking meals to her [widower] neighbour and has been checking on him daily.”

At the same time Cheryl was helping out one of her daughters, a single mum, who moved in with her kids before COVID-19 restrictions took force, Kezz said.

The aged care worker had also picked up groceries to help out a colleague, she said.

“She does things for breast cancer awareness and she’s a real silent achiever – she doesn’t ask for anything ever,” Kezz said.

“She also helped set up an Anzac Day commemoration at the nursing home where she works.”

Kezz took some flowers to Cheryl recently as a gesture of support and thanks.

“She was the perfect person to say thank you to – a simple act of kindness – which is what the page is all about,” she said.

Kezz set up the Barwon Kindness Pandemic as an offshoot of its Australia-wide namesake, which has gone viral globally.

Australian doctor Catherine Barrett set up the Kindness Pandemic, which now has half a million members.

The local version has almost 700 members on Facebook who leave gifts for each other, check up on neighbours, cook meals and post messages of thanks to frontline workers.

“We wanted to create a safe space for people to go to and see more lighter and positive things on social media,” Kezz said.

“My motto is not to leave anybody behind during this COVID time and beyond.”

Luke Voogt