Lady Mayoress’s Designer 5-star Home Opens for Charity Auction
25 January, 2008
Sign Up for free e-mail updates!
The finishing touches have been placed on a family home ahead of the Lady Mayoress’s Australia Day Auction for Brisbane’s homeless and youth in need.
Lady Mayoress Lisa Newman said the three-bedroom Devine house would open to the public on Saturday 19 January ahead of the auction.
The 5-star energy house includes top of the range stainless steel appliances, turfed garden with stencilled and coloured concrete drive and fencing, and an installed rainwater tank.
Four causes have been chosen to receive this year’s funds - an anticipated $600,000. Intervention services for youths that suffer trauma, abuse and neglect; medium and longterm accommodation for those on the mend; career scholarships; and alcohol and substance use and abuse education.
“People can really make a difference to the lives of young people in need by bidding for one of the auction items - or by donating. Please help us support those frontline projects doing some amazing work getting these young people back on track,” she said.
“A host of other goodies will also be up for grabs,” she said. “Specialised number plates, his and her mountain bikes, Lions memorabilia, a Sirromet package. You’ll find something for everyone.”
Mrs Newman said the Trust would hold the fundraiser as part of a free-entry street-party on Australia Day (Saturday 26th January 2008).
Wandera Court in Redbank Plains will be closed off and dedicated for the party from 9am onwards with the surrounding parkland used for the stages.
Mrs Newman said food and entertainment for the street party would all be in the Australia-theme.
“To add the green and gold we have a local bush band and the more unusual games such as a thong-throwing event and even camel rides,” she said.
Mrs Newman said media partner Triple M would host a free BBQ sausage sizzle and Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews and other special guests would help host the day.
“I’d encourage everyone to come along and join in the fun, and you may even leave with more than you’d bargained for,” she said.
The three bedroom contemporary home is 220.56 square metres of living space on 601 square metres of land with a $20,000 suite of designer inclusions.
Bidding for the following items starts on Friday 25 January at www.devine.com.au. ‘AUS 220’ number plates – celebrating 220 years since the landing at Port Jackson; an AHI Jensen landscaping package at $18,000; Lions Memorabilia Pieces; $1,000 His and Hers Giant Boulder Mountain Bikes; and Sirromet Wine Experience with Cellar Membership.
The Lord Mayor’s Community Trust supports front-line agencies on projects that focus on long-term solutions for young people through education, intervention and recovery services.
What: Lady Mayoress’s Australia Day Auction Street Party
Where: 123 Wandera Court, Cedar View - Redbank Plains
When: Saturday 26 January between 9am and 1pm. House Auction commences 11am
To donate visit www.lmct.org.au 3403 6842
Homeless Fact Sheet
There are four phases of homelessness:
Primary homelessness: people living without conventional accommodation - living on the streets, in deserted buildings, improvised buildings, under bridges and in parks etc.
Secondary homelessness: people moving between various forms of temporary shelter including: friends, relatives, emergency accommodation (refuges, hostels etc) and boarding houses.
Tertiary homelessness: people living in single rooms in private boarding houses on a long-term basis - without their own bathroom, kitchen and security of tenure.
Marginally housed: people in housing situations close to the minimum standard, e.g. people renting caravans on a medium to long-term basis where no-one in the caravan has full-time job.
In Queensland, the number of homeless is reported to be 24,569 and the estimated number of homeless youth is reported to be 6,381.
(Chris Chamberlain and David Mackensie, RMIT University and Swinburne University of Technology, Counting The Homeless 2006).
Significant numbers of Brisbane young people are homeless.
The 2001 Census found a total of 5,094 homeless people in Brisbane with 180 sleeping rough in the City Core.
The 2001 Census also found 109 young people were sleeping rough in the inner city.
Homeless young people tend to have very complex needs.
Documented causes of homelessness include mental health issues, drug and alcohol dependence, family violence, abuse, neglect, family breakdown and financial stress.
Current services are insufficient to provide appropriate accommodation for these young people.
While some areas of metropolitan Brisbane are serviced by supported accommodation for young people, there are substantial service gaps and little appropriate support for young people with complex needs.
There are very limited services to help young people make the transition from homelessness to long term secure and appropriate accommodation.
There are no places offering long-term intensive coordinated support for young people.
Homelessness and the factors that cause it disrupt normal personal development, leading to impaired social and living skills.
Without secure accommodation and support to gain life skills, young people are likely to require lifelong repeated crisis intervention at staggering cost to the community.
(Reference – City Life Brisbane City Council and The Australian Red Cross).