Deborah Burrows held back tears at being unable to purchase essential items for her two autistic sons in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
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The Albion Park single mother and carer was among several hundred people who attended the Woolworths store at Albion Park early on Tuesday morning.
"We haven't been able to get toilet paper for four weeks, and I still couldn't get any today," she said.
"I'm cutting up two-ply kitchen paper and having to supervise my boys, because they don't have the capacity to be able to make sure they don't stuff the toilet up."
From Tuesday until at least Friday, Woolworths supermarkets will be opening exclusively for the elderly and those with a disability to shop from 7am to 8am.
Woolworths say this has been prompted by the unprecedented demand in supermarkets, which has seen many elderly and vulnerable people in the community missing out on vital items.
"There's a lot of impatience and agitation; people are aggressive, because the store's empty," Ms Burrows said.
"This is getting a bit like wartime, where we're going to be getting ready to have tokens and things rationed."
Albion Park's Margaret Heaford was also frustrated at a lack of toilet paper or even wipes on the shelves.
"Everyone was cross - it's an absolute load of crock to get old people up here shopping," she said.
The Rail resident Neville Russell, 91, purchased some items, and said while his household wasn't out of toilet paper, "if there'd have been some we would have got some".
"We did need some tissues though, and couldn't get any of those," he said.
Mr Russell said he was surprised that panic buying and stockpiling had reached such an extent that supermarkets were hosting dedicated shopping hours for seniors.
"I think early on people were greedy and just thought of themselves," he said.
"I haven't seen anything like this before. Even in the war years when they had food rationing and clothes rationing... But life was a little bit different in those days.
"I feel sorry for people who can't afford to bulk buy, that live from pension to pension."
Woolworths Supermarkets managing director Claire Peters said while they'll continue to do "our very best to restock our stores during this period of unprecedented demand, we know many of our elderly customers have been missing out on essential items when they shop".
"This temporary measure will give them, and those with a disability, the opportunity to shop before our stores officially open - helping them obtain the essential items they need most in a less crowded environment."
Access to the stores prior to 8am will require a relevant government issued concession card.
The revised opening hours are in place at this stage until this Friday, with Woolworths to review opening arrangements at that point.
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Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
