Denise Morris is the chief executive of Combined Churches Caring Melton (CCCM), a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping people access food support, budget education, counselling and other support services.
Tell us a bit about you and what you do?
I grew up in Moonee Ponds with my mum, dad, older brother, two sisters, grandparents, stepbrother and aunt until I was 6 then my parents moved to Fawkner.
I got married to my husband Peter in 1976, he helps me out a lot at the foodbank.
We have four amazing, grown up children and seven grandkids who have also been involved in the work that we do here at the foodbank.
When I’m not working I like to spend time camping at the beach, or spending time with friends and family, one being my 98-year-old father-in-law who lives independently. The rest of my time I commit to attending church, cleaning and gardening.
Tell us about your work with CCCM?
I’ve been working full time at CCCM since 2002.
Ensuring that we always have enough food available and the finances to maintain stock is our primary aim. Over the past few months this has posed a few challenges but thanks to God we have.
It’s a very multi faceted position as you never seem to be doing the same thing for five minutes. One minute you’re dealing with daily activities of phone calls, cleaning, setting up the shop for the day, data entry, emails, counselling, directing volunteers and changing rosters then a client or volunteer will come in with some overwhelming problem where you just have to stop everything and dedicate all of your attention to them.
Working at the CCCM foodbank is one of the most enjoyable and very rewarding things I’ve done. Helping and encouraging people is what we want to do here and seeing people utterly desolate when they come in, then smile and give you a hug at the end of and interview is the most beautiful thing.
I manage a team of over 60 volunteers who have become like family to me. It amazes me that our volunteers give a lot of their time freely to put in the hard work that keeps the centre running and do it cheerfully. The life and work experiences that they have all brought to the centre is amazing. I just love to hear the chatting and laughter going on every day.
What’s your connection to Melton?
I’ve been living in Melton since 1977 when we bought our first and only home.
I have watched Melton grow from a small town of around 5000 people, where you would have to take at least two hours to do your shopping because you’d meet everyone you knew down the street and had to stop for a chat, to a multicultural city of over 200,000 people.
My 4 children have all been brought up and attended school here.
What do you like about where you live?
I love our neighbours but the biggest thing is that I’ve always found the people here to be friendly, accepting and helpful. I also like the shopping here. You don’t have to travel out of Melton to buy the things you need.
What, if anything, would you change about where you live?
The transport links! We have the shops, restaurants, entertainment and parks but we need a local caravan park for a cheap housing alternative.
Where is your favourite local place to spend time?
I actually love walking around the horse dam. It’s very peaceful and I feel a spiritual connection there. I also love looking at some of the gardens around the area, or the Melton Botanical gardens.
Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you.
I love brussel sprouts.
