By Oliver Winn
In Wandin, many locals are familiar with the sight of a lady selling jam outside the Wandin-Seville Community Bank.
Known affectionately as the jam lady, 87-year-old Maria Bast had sold jam to support Leprosy Mission projects for five years – but now, she’d decided at the end of June, it would be time to call it quits
Ms Bast said she wanted to thank everyone who’s supported herself and her husband, Joe Bast as without them, they couldn’t have done what they did.
“The most important thing to us is to thank all the people who helped us over the years,” Ms Bast said.
Farmers generously donated their strawberries and tradies tipped their cash consistently, while others offered coffees for sleepy mornings, hot potato cakes for cold winters and refreshing drinks for warm summers.
“I’m so grateful for all the people who’ve donated their fruit and jars, and for all the kindness I’ve received.”
She’d raised over $78,500 from the stall with her husband which provided crucial funding for projects they’ve supported through the Leprosy Mission, a christian organisation dedicated to combatting leprosy.
Leprosy is a chronic infection which affects millions of people around the world and when left untreated, can lead to permanent disability, physical deformities and social isolation.
It’s now curable and within 48 hours of being treated, the patient is non-contagious.
But a lack of understanding about the disease has resulted in a strong stigma that’s rooted in history and can often cause more harm mentally to the victim than the physical symptoms.
Ms Bast said when she and her husband visited India in 1999, they witnessed the widespread damage of leprosy and ever since they’ve dedicated their lives to raising funds and awareness for the cause.
“When I visited India I saw more than just visiting children’s homes and stuff like that – I saw misery, so much misery.”
“Young lads… they had their legs amputated, farmers who had no income anymore. Families that were suffering,” she said.
The harrowing sight was the catalyst for the couple’s first project, where they raised money to support daughters of leprosy victims to become nurses, as leprosy’s long-reaching limbs also hindered relatives by association.
“The first project was to raise money to have girls from parents affected by leprosy become nurses and midwives. Because they don’t have a chance,” she said.
This is when Ms Bast decided to draw upon an old trade she learnt when she had a farm in the Yarra Ranges – making jam.
“We did have a farm for 20 years and I looked after six children, so I needed a lot of jam. I like making jam, so that’s why I did that (to raise money).”
The second project was establishing a mobile clinic to provide care to leprosy victims, as they often couldn’t travel due to their injuries and stigma.
Now, they’re close to finishing their third and final project, which is to provide rehabilitation services and artificial limbs to leprosy sufferers in South India.
She said her faith played a big role in her want to spread love among the people of Wandin and to help those suffering from leprosy.
“I am a Christian, you know, and I really, you know, like to encourage people, you know, that there is faith and that there is hope and that there is love.”
Though Ms Bast wanted to focus on the generosity of the Wandin community, her presence as a friendly face in the town has undoubtedly left a positive impact on everyone who’s interacted with her.
“Sometimes I feel like a hairdresser. They tell me all sort of things, and I’m there to encourage people. I’m there to love people. I’m there to be happy. And that’s why they come and talk,” she said.
“It is really my connection day, every Friday, and that’s really what I will miss.”
If you’d like to get in touch, call Joe and Maria Bast on 5964 4536.
