Celebrating Nillumbik Women 2009 - Nillumbik Shire Council

Laura Rohricht
Nominated by Judith Bessant
Laura Rohricht (formerly Cameron) was first
employed in 1971 until 1976 as a Welfare
Officer at Eltham Shire Council at a time
when local government-based community
welfare was in its infancy. Women were
still fighting for equal pay for equal work.
Undeterred, Laura set about establishing
some far-sighted innovative welfare services
and practices. All of these initiatives still
play a central role at Nillumbik Shire Council
today.
In 1972, Laura established and developed
the meals-on-wheels service in Eltham. In
her work as Welfare Officer, she had seen
too many older and disadvantaged people
who were not eating well or who were
socially isolated. She won the support of
local government for the idea, developed a
contract with Austin Hospital to prepare the
meals, organised a small army of volunteers
and managed the daily distribution of the
meals.
She then established a local network of
elderly citizens groups across the entire
Shire, creating opportunities for many
isolated elderly people to enjoy regular
social contact and to develop friendships.
Adopt a Granny service was another
of Laura’s initiatives designed to assist
the elderly. More local volunteers were
recruited, trained, organised and supported
to provide social contact and support that
involved activities like shopping, outings,
Sunday lunches and simple chats. Laura’s
extensive community outreach work, in
what was then a largely rural Shire, saw her
connecting with and referring many isolated,
lonely and seriously ill residents on to
relevant services and support agencies.
Over the next few years, Laura also further
developed and managed the Home Help
Service, with a special focus on families
caring for children with disabilities and
especially, children with brain damage.
It was in recognition of these kinds of
connections and commitment to the
community that saw Laura Rohricht asked
to take on the role of the first female Justice
of the Peace in Eltham. As the local JP, she
sat on the bench on a weekly basis at the
Eltham Court and paid many late night callout
visits to places such as the Heidelberg
police station to care for local residents.
Running in parallel with this work, Laura
also managed to find time to work with
local young people in her capacity as an
honorary Probation Officer. This voluntary
work entailed counselling and case
management of many young people who
found themselves in trouble.