Adopt A Pensioner

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She failed to thaw the hearts of the politicians in Canberra, but Betty Moore's fight for a better deal for pensioners has melted the heart of one young woman, Amanda Pike.

"I thought 'if they're not going to do something about it, I'm going to do everything in my power as a little person to hopefully be able to back Betty and get everyone else's eyes open and see what they can do to help'," Amanda said.

"Adopt A Pensioner - that's my idea."

The 34-year-old Gold Coast sales rep has been following Betty's story on Today Tonight, as Betty struggles to stretch her single aged pension every week.

Betty has fought a long, hard battle to get pensioners a simple pay rise, a campaign that last week took her to the front doorstep of Parliament House in Canberra.

But it was Betty's bitter disappointment on budget night, when she realised her calls for help had gone ignored, that shocked Amanda. The government has refused to increase the pension by even as little as $10 a week, forcing Betty to tears.

To kick the campaign off, Amanda and her partner have decided to adopt Betty Moore. They hope Adopt A Pensioner can become a national campaign.

"Whether it's gift vouchers, or putting a washer on a tap, anything, just something to help them out," Amanda said.

For Betty, who has no children of her own, Amanda's gesture is incredibly touching. She was moved to tears again when Amanda gave her a small present.

Paul Versteege from the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association has welcomed Adopt a Pensioner, but is saddened that it has come to this.

"It just shows you how desperate the situation is in Australia, that we have to think of a scheme like 'Adopt a Pensioner' to make sure our pensioners don't starve," Mr Versteege said.

"The Rudd Government should be red-faced about the fact that we have so many pensioners probably watching this program and saying 'yes, I want those gift cards'. It's a very sad state and affairs and one that needs to be fixed."

Amanda's scheme aims to start small, but she hopes it will spread nationwide.

“Where they can put their names on maybe an internet or something, and we can adopt a pensioner that way," Amanda said.

"In the meantime, I'm hoping people can look around their own neighbourhood - they might have a pensioner in their own unit block, or in their street - and instead of just saying hi, get to know them and ask them, 'Is there something that I can do to help?'."

The Combined Pensioners Association in NSW has agreed to distribute any gift cards to its 8000 needy members.

Details of their locations can be found below.

Betty has now stepped back from the pension fight, for a well deserved rest. She is also coming to terms with her sudden, belated adoption, realising her campaign has worked after all.

"If a matter of $5 or $10 a week makes a huge difference to them, to be able to get extra groceries, then $40 or $45 a month can make a massive difference," Amanda said.

"I'm sure they [viewers] can spare something. Open your heart, it doesn't take alot of money to help."

More information

If you are keen to "Adopt a Pensioner", first try someone in your local community.

But if you wish to make a gift card donation (do not send cash), please direct it to the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association:

Phone (02) 9281 3588 or toll-free for country callers 1800 451 488
Fax (02) 9281 9716
Email cpsa@cpsa.org.au
Website: www.cpsa.org.au
Mailing address: Level 9, 28 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010'''