Meeting next step to opening new southeast domestic violence shelter

THE community is rallying together to establish a new domestic violence shelter for the southeast, with the first meeting of a steering committee to be held on Monday.

The first meeting of the steering committee for the new southeast domestic violence shelter will be held at 6pm this Monday January 30.

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THE community is rallying together to establish a new domestic violence shelter for the southeast, with the first meeting of a steering committee to be held next Monday.

Bayside Council’s Dr Christina Curry and Women’s Community Shelters’ chief executive Annabelle Daniel are leading the charge, with a view to opening a service for women and their children this year.

Southern Courier in ­October reported on a ­community forum where victims shared first-hand ­accounts of domestic ­violence.

Twenty-one people volunteered to be a part of the steering committee for the shelter on the night, and Dr Curry said they had been “inundated with support” ever since.

“A number of people emailed in saying they would love to get involved and wanted to be informed, particularly after reading about the project in Southern Courier,” Dr Curry said.

Women’s Community Shelters CEO Annabelle Daniel and Bayside Council's Dr Christina Curry are leading the charge for the new southeast domestic violence shelter. Picture: Craig Wilson.

“We have a variety of people who want to contribute their time, offering to be on the board, help with administration tasks, collecting ­donations and organising the work force.

“I think people often want to get involved in something that makes a difference in their community but don’t know what that is, so this gives them that opportunity.”

Monday’s meeting will make focus on practical steps to raise $25,000, half the set-up cost of the shelter.

The Matraville RSL ladies' golf club. The group was the first in the local community to donate to the start-up cost of establishing a new domestic violence shelter in the south east. Picture: Supplied.

The Matraville RSL ladies golf club last month kicked off the donations with $500, while SCEGGS Darlinghurst put in $4000, which Dr Curry described as “fantastic”.

“We will be working to create a timeline, give people more information about the process, and allow them to put forward their own ideas,” she said.

Once the $25,000 target has been reached, WCS will ­contribute an equal amount, before a suitable rental ­property is secured to house the service.

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The charity will also underwrite two-thirds of the annual operating cost of $400,000 for the first two years, and up to 50 per cent per annum after that.

Monday’s meeting is at 6pm at Hillsdale Community Centre, 236 Bunnerong Rd, Hillsdale.

To donate, visit givenow.com.au/womenscommunityshelterssesyd