‘I want to re-empower these women’: Philanthropists to open Qld’s biggest DV shelter

Philanthropists Peggy and Brian Flannery are building Queensland’s largest shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence.

Peggy Flannery (l) with Fiona Worrall, general manager of ‘Peggy’s Place’. Photo: Lyndon Mechielsen.

PHILANTHROPISTS Peggy and Brian Flannery are building Queensland’s largest shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence on one of Brisbane’s biggest private inner-city landholdings.

To be called ‘Peggy’s Place’, the facility will take in up to 33 women and 45 to 50 children,

considered at ‘low risk’, and will increase the number of beds for DV escapees in the state by 80 per cent.

The Flannerys purchased the site in 2021 to provide safe spaces for the vulnerable families who have transitioned through a refuge but are not ready for independent living.

‘Peggy’s Place’ will provide safe spaces for vulnerable women and children who have transitioned through a refuge.

The hope is they can transition without fear of being homeless and returning to violence.

The facility, set to open later this year, will provide a place of refuge and recovery for up to 12 months.

“I’m going to take those women and children from emergency places and provide a home to help them recover,” Mrs Flannery said, speaking exclusively to The Courier-Mail.

“I want to re-empower these women by providing a place where they are safe and have the freedom to make their own choices and have their individual needs met.

“It’s all about giving them back everything that’s been stripped from them.”

Peggy Flannery (R) with Fiona Worrall stand in the doorway to ‘Peggy’s Place’. Photo: Lyndon Mechielsen.

The facility will feature six lounge rooms, a kids’ club, a dining room, three kitchens, craft rooms, a dedicated wing for mothers and their babies, a wing for older women without children, and a wing for mothers and their teenage sons.

‘Peggy’s Place’ general manager Fiona Worrall, a former high-risk domestic violence support worker for the Queensland Department of Child Safety, said more than 300 women and children were currently sleeping in parks in the Brisbane local government area because the city’s existing refuges were full.

Ms Worrall, who connected with the Flannerys through RizeUp Australia, said she was partnering with the Queensland Department of Housing and other groups to provide homes for Peggy’s Place guests to move into once they were ready.

‘Peggy’s Place’ will work with the Queensland Department of Housing to provide homes for guests when they are ready.

“We’re planning on this being a holistic healing and empowerment centre,” Ms Worrall said.

“It takes six to eight weeks for a victim to regulate once they leave a violent home, so this will be more of a recovery centre.”

Brian and Peggy founded The Flannery Foundation in 2010 to give back to the community and currently support around 30 charities.

“Since I was 12 years of age, I’ve wanted to do something for domestic violence victims,” Mrs Flannery said. “From the time we started this foundation, I’ve been on the lookout for buildings that I could adapt.

“This is 33 women we can take out of an overburdened system.”

Domestic violence victim Hannah Clarke and her son Trey, who were killed in a car fire. Photo: Facebook.

But ‘Peggy’s Place’ will be expensive to operate, and the Flannerys are grateful for support.

So far, more than 800 volunteers from Habitat for Humanity have helped to repurpose the site,

including landscaping and painting.

Still on the wishlist is the need for a vehicle to transport children to school.

“I want Peggy’s Place to be a peaceful place, a haven for women and children to get their lives back,” she said.

“After experiencing domestic and family violence, people don’t just need housing support. They needhelp rebuilding their skills and their self-worth so they can be happy, secure, and self-sufficient.”

An artist’s impression of “Hannah’s Sanctuary”.

Last year, a mystery benefactor pledged $6m to build a townhouse complex for women fleeing domestic violence to be named in honour of Hannah Clarke, who was murdered in February 2020, along with her children, Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, in one of Australia’s most horrific acts of domestic violence.

The project, to be called “Hannah’s Sanctuary”, will be more of an independent living solution for victims, featuring nine townhouses with up to three bedrooms.

The Flannerys also own KTQ ­Developments, under which they are working on a number of projects including the $385m redevelopment of the Kirra Beach Hotel, which is on track to top out in June.

The duo also own the $100m Elements of Byron Resort and Spa, north of Byron Bay.