Every Wednesday, two volunteers set up the mobile clothes laundry outside St Benedict’s in Queanbeyan.

For people like Robert Jenkins, it’s a luxury he otherwise couldn’t afford.

The 66-year-old hit hard times after being made redundant four years ago. His payout meant he couldn’t qualify for Centrelink, but a few years later when he could, his pension was halved because of his wife’s income.

“Because I was getting less money, we argued about money, so we split up. I moved away,” Mr Jenkins said.

“I worked for 44 years, then I got my pension and then they cut it, just because my wife works. That’s not right.”

The 66-year-old moved to where he was allocated housing commission, in Queanbeyan. 

It’s a three-hour drive from his former home and family in Mount Druitt.

“This is the highlight of my week. At the moment, I can’t afford a washing machine… Laundromats charge too much, on a pension, I can’t afford it.”

He said it wasn’t just the clothes washing service he came for.

“It’s not easy living away from your family.

“[If I don’t come here] I start to get too stressed. I’m finding life testing,” he said.

For volunteer Tig Hall, helping people like Robert is rewarding. Having taken a voluntary redundancy from her job in the public service, she had time to spare and wanted to give back to the community.

“The premise is about offering practical support with laundry, but it’s more about connecting with people who might otherwise be very isolated and need company,” Ms Hall said.

“The people I’ve met through coming out every week has been just wonderful and enriched my life. I hope they feel the same.”

Kendall Richmond said volunteering with Orange Sky was the most amazing thing he’d ever done.

”When you sit at home in your nice house and you have all your luxuries, you get a bit blase about what people do or how they live. When you go out here its a nice reality check,” he said.