Tarana thinks outside the box for Muriel

But in this case, the box is in fact a wooden chest in memory of a very special woman.

Muriel Stevens, a lifelong member of the Tarana community, died in July last year.

Muriel, or Moo as she was affectionately known, made such an impact that a community chest has been established in her name.

Tarana farmer Kerwin Perry said that Muriel was a wonderful person who spent her life helping others.

Muriel was born in 1921 at “Hopeville” at Tarana.

Mr Perry said from an early age she had a kind and loving nature. Her willingness to help was extended not only to friends and family, but even to strangers.

It was in the Tarana Bushfire Brigade that she made a huge impact. She joined the brigade as a teenager, and not only fought fires, but was always there with cakes, slices and sandwiches to feed firefighters.

In 2011, at the age of 90, Muriel received a Commissioner’s Certificate of Commendation for her services to the brigade.

Mr Perry said it was after the community lost Muriel that he had an idea inspired by her generosity.

“I thought we should set up a fund for people in the Tarana community that need a helping hand,” he said.

The idea grew and the Muriel Stevens Memorial Community Chest was born.

Now the charming wooden box, made by Mr Perry, holds two very important things.

First, there are donations from community members to go towards helping Tarana people in need.

Mr Perry said the money is used to help out, whether it be to pay a bill or buy groceries for someone in need.

A committee, made up of Mr Perry, Fay Shaw, Ian Gentle, Aidan Keough and Muriel’s niece Diane Fletcher, manages the donations.

The chest’s second function is a Helping Hand Register, a list of people, along with the services they offer, such as wood cutting, cleaning or cooking, to help others.

Mr Perry said the chest was a way of continuing Muriel’s legacy of lending a hand.

“It is a good way of keeping the community together and remembering Muriel,” he said. 

“If everyone in the world was like Muriel, the world would be a better place.”

Anyone who would like to contribute can call Fay Shaw on 6337 5851 or Aidan Keough on 0412 422 246.