For 84-year-old Barbara Carroll, long-distance driving has become part of a monthly mission to help people living in some of Western Australia’s most remote communities. Known affectionately as “Nan Barb,” Carroll travels more than 2,000 kilometres each month, carrying donated clothes from her op shop (opportunity shop, or second-hand charity store) in Donnybrook to people and organisations in communities across the state’s north. Her journeys take her through long stretches of remote country, where access to everyday necessities can be limited by distance. An ABC News report on her work, based on interviews with Carroll and people connected to her efforts, has highlighted both the scale of her journeys and the community’s attempt to help her continue them.
From an op shop to a mission beyond Donnybrook
Carroll runs an op shop in Donnybrook, a town in Western Australia’s South West region. Like many community op shops, hers receives donated clothing from people looking to give unwanted items a second life.But Carroll found that the volume of clothing coming into the shop could sometimes exceed what was needed locally. Instead of letting those donations go unused, she began taking them to communities where they could serve a more immediate purpose. That effort developed into what is known as “Nan Goes North”. Carroll regularly packs her vehicle with donated clothing before setting out on lengthy journeys to remote parts of Western Australia. Her destinations have included communities and towns such as Carnarvon, Newman, Nullagine and Roebourne. The journeys can add up to more than 2,000 kilometres in a single month, turning what began as a local donation effort into a much wider network of support.
Clothing for communities far from major centres
For people living in remote parts of Western Australia, obtaining basic goods can involve travelling significant distances. Carroll’s trips therefore provide more than a way to redistribute excess clothing from an op shop. The donations have included clothes for women and men, children’s and baby clothing, as well as blankets and other useful items. Some of the clothing has gone to organisations including women’s refuges and community services.Carroll’s granddaughter Tara has travelled with her on some of the journeys. She has spoken about the significance of the work and the circumstances faced by people living in remote communities. Carroll also has a personal connection to the region. She was raised in Nullagine, giving her a longstanding connection with the remote communities she now visits. That history helps explain why the journeys have become more than a simple delivery route. She knows many of the places and people she is travelling to help, and the regular visits have helped build relationships along the way.
The challenges of travelling thousands of kilometres
The distances involved make each journey demanding, particularly when Carroll is travelling through isolated areas. Her vehicle has broken down during some trips, leaving her waiting on remote roads until help arrived. On another occasion, problems with the vehicle’s air conditioning made the journey particularly uncomfortable.Despite the difficulties, Carroll continues to make the trips. She has described enjoying the solitude of driving and the independence that comes with being on the road. Country music accompanies her during many of the long stretches between communities. But there is a practical limit to what her current vehicle can carry.
Why she needs a bigger truck
Carroll’s community is now trying to raise money for a truck that could help her continue the work more effectively. Her existing van has limited space, particularly when another person needs to accompany her. Carroll has said there is not enough room for two people to travel comfortably, making the long journeys even more challenging.A larger truck would give her additional room for donated clothing and other supplies. It would also make it easier for another person to travel with her, something that could provide valuable assistance during lengthy trips through remote areas. For Carroll, however, the motivation behind the work remains straightforward. She believes that when people have something they no longer need and others need it, there is value in connecting the two.
A journey that has grown beyond donations
What started with donated clothing at a local op shop has developed into a regular commitment covering thousands of kilometres across Western Australia. At 84, Carroll continues to make those journeys despite the distances, vehicle problems and physical demands involved. Her work has also demonstrated how a small community initiative can extend far beyond the place where it began. The proposed truck would not simply replace her existing vehicle. It could allow Carroll to carry more donations, travel with greater support and potentially reach more communities.For the people waiting for her deliveries, the significance is equally simple: clothing that might otherwise remain unused in one part of the state can become something useful in another. For Carroll, it is a reason to keep driving north.
