Meet potentially the Kindest Person in Australia!

By MARGARET DEKKER

Fresh off the release of her first book on the ‘lived experiences’ of Queenslanders locked out of their homes and state, Tweed author and campaigner Meredith Llewellyn is now nominated for the ‘Kindest Australian’ award for her spirited work helping those left stranded and ‘broken’ by Queensland’s border closure in 2021.

The ‘Kindest Australian’ quest is being run by apparel group Black Pepper, in the lead up to World Kindness Day on November 13.

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“It’s a privilege to be responsible for recognising the amazing people we have in our community and sharing their stories with the world in hope that we can inspire acts of love, generosity and kindness,” Rachel Digby, Black Pepper’s General Manager said.

This journalist caught up with Meredith Llewellyn (interrupting her cherished needlework) ahead of next month’s announcement.

1. Meredith, how did it feel when you were contacted with the news, you’d been nominated several times for the Kindest Australian award?
2. Stunned. I never had any doubt that what had happened to thousands of Queenslanders was ‘huge’ but I never thought of the response that David (husband) and I had made to these people who were left in traumatic frightening circumstances as ‘huge’. I was shocked that people were seeing it this way.
3. The Northern Rivers Times newspaper has documented your kindness in previous articles .. what is it within you that prompts such efforts and actions of kindness to help many others?

Daily we were being bombarded by stories of loss, devastation, hurt, rejection, and trauma that were very distressing and disturbing. But I knew that in amongst our church family, our own families and our friends were many who were so deeply saddened by what they were hearing and seeing and would be willing to do what they could to help alleviate the suffering of others. It was because I knew this that I called on so many, and it is the weight of sympathy from many ordinary Australians that tells the biggest story of kindness.

But the other story, the big story for me Margaret, that press, and people don’t want to hear, and perhaps see as the ‘stuff on the lunatic fringe,’ is the eternal kindness, grace and forgiveness that I have been offered by my Heavenly Father. It is this that causes me to want to serve others and help them along the way in life. This is the big story of my life and how I live each day – with a joy and a peace that passes all understanding. It is why I do not find hate and unforgiveness in my heart to those who caused such harm. It is why I search for a path to peace and restoration. And because I know that path can be found, it is why I seek to encourage others to find it also. These are the things that matter most to me

1. Is extending kindness rewarding?

Sure is! Far better to give than receive. There is great joy in giving. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

1. If you receive the national award, could this national recognition be used as a platform to promote a broader, formal review of the Queensland border closure decision and its devastating effects?

I do adamantly believe that there must be a review into how the pandemic was handled in Australia. There has to be. Reviews are a normal part of business practice to improve performance and there must also be a review process that honestly examines government COVID responses. In my head it is irresponsible if there isn’t. Why? For next time!!! Because they will be a next time. The next generation. The next pandemic!

I am not being antagonistic nor am I being provocative or an agitator, but any review has to be prepared to examine all the evidence and my book ‘Locked Out’ documents the lived experiences of many many people during this time. Evidence that must be tabled. I would like to be a part of that review.

But I would hope it could also be a platform for moving the troubled out of hate and disturbance and inability to forgive and forget and lead them into that place where they are able to lay to rest this chapter of time in their lives where they suffered so much. A place where they will be unstuck and free to live fulfilling lives.

For more information about the award, visit https://www.blackpepper.com.au/world_kindness_day Australia’s Kindest Person will be announced on Wednesday 10 November.

Good luck Meredith, you deserve it.