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After the 2011 flood, some people reported feeling more entitled to ‘government money’ than ‘charity money’. Some described feeling shame or hypocrisy when receiving charity from churches they did not support. Others felt the verification processes used by charitable organisations were intrusive or scrutinising. For example, representatives asking to visit people’s homes.

Nicole George (2013) “It was a town of friendship and mud: ‘Flood talk’, community, and resilience” Australian Journal of Communication

Image: Corner of Melbourne and Manning Street, 2022. Credit: Ben Kaufman.