Michelle Ryder, who has been receiving disability support, faced challenges during the winter due to broken doors at her Riverland home caused by vandals. The 54-year-old, who is immunocompromised, had to endure cold temperatures as she struggled to decide between heating her home and affording basic necessities like food.
Ms. Ryder resorted to using a makeshift barrier of wooden pallets to cover the broken front door, while the back door remained partially boarded up after the vandals' attack. Despite these efforts, she still felt the chill seeping through her home, causing concern as she braced for the upcoming winter in Loxton, where temperatures can drop to 4C minimum.
Staying warm was a top priority for Ms. Ryder, who revealed the financial strain of heating her home, with monthly electricity bills amounting to $200-$300, prompting her to budget meticulously and even pay a small amount fortnightly to avoid disconnection. The Department of Climate Change provided data showing that Australians allocate a significant portion of their energy consumption to heating, highlighting the financial burden faced by many in the community.
Astra Fleetwood from Anglicare SA Financial Counselling and Emergency Assistance expressed concerns about the increasing demand for emergency aid, pointing out that families were resorting to chemically treated firewood due to rising prices, posing health risks. The challenges extended to firewood wholesalers like Gelletly Red Gum Firewood and JCK Engineering and Services, who grappled with sourcing wood and absorbing higher operational costs without passing them onto customers.