Lifelong Millers Point resident leaves under-threat community
LIFE long Millers Point resident Flo Seckold, 83, who spent three years fighting to stop the government from relocating her, has moved from her beloved home.
Central Sydney
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A LEADING light in the campaign to save a community in the heart of Sydney has left her home after three years of resistance.
Lifelong Millers Point resident Flo Seckold has been fighting against the relocation of residents since the NSW Department of Family and Community Services proposed selling all of the suburb’s public housing in 2014.
The 83-year-old has been one of the faces of the community’s fightback and has been featured in dozens of stories.
Lashed by rain and surrounded by camera crews today at her Argyle Place home, Mrs Seckold said: “This is not what I want. Why should I expect less than what I’ve got here?
“With the problems you have at my age, moving out is not easy. If I had moved when I was 30 it would have been a lot easier.”
Mrs Seckold’s home was covered with banners, petitions, photos and stories of the people of Millers Point, and most days she came out to her front veranda railing to talk about the community.
Three years ago Mrs Seckold’s husband Teddy died, and the day after his funeral she received the letter telling her she was being relocated from Millers Point, along with every other public housing tenant.
She burst into tears speaking to Central, saying: “I have been crying for three years now and you couldn’t get me to cry before that.
“There is nothing that I haven’t loved about living here.”
She has now moved to a premises in Ultimo and admitted there were a couple of upsides to her new home such as fewer stairs for her to climb.
But, as remaining residents and passers by came to say their goodbyes and give Mrs Seckold gifts, she said she will miss the suburb’s people and its sense of community.
Remaining resident of 44 years, Chris Hinkley, said there are around 45 residents still left in the community.
“It’s a very sad day to lose Flo,” he said. “People don’t live in communities anymore, but this is one of the oldest communities in Australia and a real village in the heart of the metropolis.
“It’s very sad to see because we have a peace of living heritage here, but the Government seems committed to destroying it.”
SYDNEY’S CBD FLOODS
FLO’S STORY
■ Born in Millers Point 83 years ago, Flo Seckold grew up and went to school in the suburb.
■ She then married Teddy and in Millers Point they raised their children.
■ Her father died in a waterfront accident in 1953 and there is still a photo of him hanging in the Hero of Waterloo Hotel.
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