Ok... my round up of this morning at the Vaccination Hub... overwhelmingly the vast, and I mean vast, majority of people have been respectful, courteous and listened to what they were asked to do and followed instruction.
By the time I was relieved by a new marshal at 12.40, the final number of vehicles that had passed me was 462 obviously not all for the vaccination hub, but all travelling the same direction on the same bit of road.
Miles walked 6 1/4, mostly danced rather than walked.
Marshals on duty from VIC were six, delicious chicken curry and rice was provided by Pat and regular brews and biscuits were provided.
Weather - 8 degrees, didn't feel warm and there was on and off rain and drizzle.
Other members of the 'A-team' described it as being a tricky shift and said they had far too many people being rude and just refusing to listen (that is my sanitised version!)
Apple Taxis - drove far too quickly in the 5mph car park. Told veterans that they needed 'to get a real job, you are only volunteers' then parked on the access road, blocking one side of the road, arguing about well just about everything.
Another visitor, when asked to stay in their car, park in a space and then get out, thrust the car door into the leg of a volunteer because it was his right to get out of the car where he wanted..
Another parked on the double yellows to let their very mobile passenger out and the reason she refused to use the car park like EVERYONE else... because she was running an errand.
I am freezing cold and tired. But I will be back on shift next week just as the other volunteers will be from VIC tomorrow. We do it because it needs to be done. We do it because if you remove all the car parking marshals you would have chaos.
In less than 5 hours nearly 500 vehicles passed me on that road... take away the veteran on the corner directing people into the hub and the daft dancing lady signalling you to follow the road round and go into the car park, take away the lads on the entrance making sure people park safely, that the disabled bays are used properly and cars go slowly in a car park full of vehicles and people, take away the veteran waiting at the archway to make sure there is someone to push your wheelchair if one is required or just to direct you towards the vaccination area, take away the veteran who is waiting next to the gate to make sure you are at your ease before instructing you to go towards the door where... yes another volunteer opens it and guides you into the next part of the system, the vaccination itself.
Take away the volunteers inside and out helping the centre to run as smoothly as possible - now you tell me what the experience would be like?
I was brought up to believe manners cost nothing. They do, but their value is priceless.
Thank you to everyone today who smiled at the volunteers, waved as they left, gave us the thumbs up, rolled down their window to shout out a thank you, listened to simple instructions and were a part of the solution.
By the time I was relieved by a new marshal at 12.40, the final number of vehicles that had passed me was 462 obviously not all for the vaccination hub, but all travelling the same direction on the same bit of road.
Miles walked 6 1/4, mostly danced rather than walked.
Marshals on duty from VIC were six, delicious chicken curry and rice was provided by Pat and regular brews and biscuits were provided.
Weather - 8 degrees, didn't feel warm and there was on and off rain and drizzle.
Other members of the 'A-team' described it as being a tricky shift and said they had far too many people being rude and just refusing to listen (that is my sanitised version!)
Apple Taxis - drove far too quickly in the 5mph car park. Told veterans that they needed 'to get a real job, you are only volunteers' then parked on the access road, blocking one side of the road, arguing about well just about everything.
Another visitor, when asked to stay in their car, park in a space and then get out, thrust the car door into the leg of a volunteer because it was his right to get out of the car where he wanted..
Another parked on the double yellows to let their very mobile passenger out and the reason she refused to use the car park like EVERYONE else... because she was running an errand.
I am freezing cold and tired. But I will be back on shift next week just as the other volunteers will be from VIC tomorrow. We do it because it needs to be done. We do it because if you remove all the car parking marshals you would have chaos.
In less than 5 hours nearly 500 vehicles passed me on that road... take away the veteran on the corner directing people into the hub and the daft dancing lady signalling you to follow the road round and go into the car park, take away the lads on the entrance making sure people park safely, that the disabled bays are used properly and cars go slowly in a car park full of vehicles and people, take away the veteran waiting at the archway to make sure there is someone to push your wheelchair if one is required or just to direct you towards the vaccination area, take away the veteran who is waiting next to the gate to make sure you are at your ease before instructing you to go towards the door where... yes another volunteer opens it and guides you into the next part of the system, the vaccination itself.
Take away the volunteers inside and out helping the centre to run as smoothly as possible - now you tell me what the experience would be like?
I was brought up to believe manners cost nothing. They do, but their value is priceless.
Thank you to everyone today who smiled at the volunteers, waved as they left, gave us the thumbs up, rolled down their window to shout out a thank you, listened to simple instructions and were a part of the solution.