The Welcome I Will Always Remember in Borroloola Remote Laundry in Australia's Northern Territory

Introduction

Sally Bradley rsm is Executive Director of Mercy Works, the development organisation of the Sisters of Mercy in Australia and Papua New Guinea. In this piece she speaks to how Mercy today is often called to meet the most basic and practical of needs.

Mercy meeting a practical need

Sometimes, Mercy begins with meeting a practical need. In June 2026, as Executive Director of Mercy Works, I travelled to the remote Aboriginal community of Borroloola in Australia's Northern Territory with our Head of Programs, Andrew Lowry.

Mercy Works had recently expanded its partnership with the Aboriginal Investment Group to support the Borroloola Remote Laundry for the next 12 months. The visit gave me the opportunity to see the project first hand and, more importantly, to meet the people whose commitment brings it to life.

At first glance, a community laundry might seem like a simple thing. But in remote communities where overcrowding is common, access to clean clothes, towels and bedding can make an extraordinary difference to people's health and wellbeing.

Regular washing and hot drying help reduce the spread of scabies mites and the skin infections they can cause, lowering the risk of serious illnesses such as kidney disease and rheumatic heart disease. What many of us take for granted can, in places like Borroloola, become an important part of creating healthier futures.

Andrew and I were warmly welcomed by Bernice, Coordinator of the Borroloola Remote Laundry, and her daughter Jaida, who is also part of the local staff team. As we spent time together, they spoke with genuine pride about their work and the positive difference they are seeing for local families and the wider community.

As I listened to Bernice and Jaida, I was struck by the pride, generosity and hope they carried for their community.

Bernice and Jaida spoke not about themselves or their own roles, but about their community. They shared the importance of having clean clothes and bedding, the improvements they were witnessing, and the dignity that comes from people being able to access a service designed by and for their own community.

Shining lamps … today

The visit reminded me why Mercy Works is committed to walking alongside communities as they develop locally led solutions that improve health, wellbeing and opportunity. The Remote Laundries program is a wonderful example of that approach. Led by the Aboriginal Investment Group in partnership with local communities, it combines practical action with local leadership, creating employment while improving health outcomes and strengthening communities.

As we travelled home, I found myself reflecting on the words of Catherine McAuley:

“We should be shining lamps giving light to all around us.”

For me, those words came to life in the generosity of Bernice and Jaida’s welcome, the pride they took in their work, and the hope they shared for the future of their community.

That day reminded me that Mercy is often found in the simplest of places. Sometimes it begins with something as practical as clean clothes and bedding. But at its heart, it is about walking alongside communities with dignity, compassion and hope.

Sally Bradley rsm

ENDS

Editor’s noter: Thanks to Sally for sharing her visit with us. What a wonderful response to a very practical need that so many of us take for granted.

Photos used with permission.