Uncle Lawrence ‘Cheese’ Anderson is an Aboriginal Elder and Cultural Coordination Officer in Cunnamulla. 

As a born and bred local, his deep connections to the community have informed his actions when it comes to getting vaccinated against COVID-19. 

“My choice to get vaccinated from COVID-19 was to protect myself, my family, my community and my friends,” Uncle Cheese said. 

“Without that vaccination, I feel that I would be a liability to all those entities I just mentioned,” he said. 

Uncle Cheese’s connection to place and people has shaped his calling as a Cultural Communication Officer where he accompanies young men and boys back on country to teach them about Country, so they can appreciate what’s out there and around them. 

“It is rewarding because, like a good mate of mine said, we’re storytellers as a nation of people,” he said.  

“And with storytelling we’ve got to pass down knowledge that we have.  

“It’s not ours to keep.  

“We’ve gotta pass it down so the younger generation can appreciate what is actually out there.  

“It’s that cultural transmission that we’ve got to keep going.” 

Keeping that cultural transmission going is a big reason for why he got the vaccine, especially protecting the Elders and aged in the community. 

“At the end of the day, it’s our responsibility to protect ourselves, our family, our community,” he said.   

“And if we don’t get it and we leave it too late, it could be very devastating with our little community.  

“A lot of our family and friends are at the end of a road where they’re aging –we’ve got an aging population—and it would be devastating, really, really sad.” 

Uncle Lawrence was vaccinated at the local clinic, the Cunnamulla Aboriginal Corporation for Health and said the vaccine process was almost entirely hassle free. 

“My first dose, I got a little bit doughy, a little bit tired and fatigued for about a half hour, 45 minutes.  

“Second dose I never had no reaction whatsoever. I went in, sat down, got it done, and I felt really good.” 

Indeed, he now feels a layer of personal protection but also community protection. 

“I feel it all the time. It was my choice to get fully vaccinated to protect me, family, friends and the community.  

“But on top of that, it shows that I’m taking responsibility for myself, for my own actions.  

“That if I was to infect somebody and that individual passed, I’d never forgive myself.” 

If you would like more information, or to book an appointment, contact Cunnamulla Aboriginal Corporation for Health.