Kelly Wilkinson, Tamika Smith and the project to bring hope to slain mum’s kids
The children of Kelly Wilkinson and their family will today celebrate an incredible new beginning, walking for the first time into a home built by a community determined they have a brighter future. This is the remarkable story of the Gold Coast’s greatest building project.
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In a Gold Coast holiday hideaway last night, eight small bags were packed. Eight small souls went to bed, filled with eager anticipation, knowing it was just one more sleep until a new chapter in their lives.
The three children of Kelly Wilkinson and the cousins they now live with will tonight be welcomed to a home built by a community determined to show that its love for them is stronger than the pain anyone can inflict.
Ms Wilkinson died after being set on fire in the backyard of her Arundel home on 20 April, 2021. Her estranged husband Brian Earl Johnston has been charged with her murder.
Since that fateful day Kelly’s three children have lived with her sister Danielle Carroll, husband Rhys and their five kids in a suburban house where sleeping arrangements spilled into the lounge.
But thanks to a campaign spearheaded by construction entrepreneur Tamika Smith of My Bella Casa, supported by businesses such as Metricon Homes and the Gold Coast Bulletin and 7 News Gold Coast at the outset, and anchored by the determined efforts of an army of volunteer tradies, a spacious new home has been built for the clan on land donated by a local family. The local land donor wished to remain anonymous.
Tonight, they finally get to move in.
“It’s really exciting to see it come together,” Ms Smith said. “Everyone has worked so tirelessly to make it happen.
“It’s really good to see the kids get excited, the family get excited.
“ ... You can’t help but see these kids and just know that they deserve all the love in the world from everyone they meet – and that’s a testament to the amount of people who have undeniably stood up without question to say, ‘we’re in’.”
The journey towards making tonight possible began for Ms Smith just over two years ago on a Wednesday afternoon, as the Gold Coast still reeled from news of Kelly’s senseless death just eight days earlier.
By Friday evening there had been a myriad offers of help and then, crucially, a phone call to donate a block of land.
It was a call that brought Ms Smith to tears, the project to build a home for Kelly’s kids could succeed.
That it has done so despite enormous pressures on the industry speaks volumes of the Gold Coast construction sector, Ms Smith said.
“It’s a real testament to the sector, particularly in the housing crisis that we’re in,” she said. “It shows what the community can do. In 48 hours we had an answer.
“ ... For most people, their contribution would have doubled (in the meantime due to construction costs spiking). But no one wavered. It’s been a really good display of people that at times found it difficult themselves and still contributed to the cause and to the kids.”
The result, to be unveiled tonight, is a fully furnished, expertly constructed, seven-bedroom home.
It sits upon the most solid of foundations. And not just in the literal sense.
“It’s really special I think because a home is so much more than bricks and mortar and we’re seeing so many people right now struggling to find that,” Ms Smith said.
“If you look at the impact of a safe, secure home, we’re giving these kids hope, we’re giving these kids such a longevity into their future and their kids’ future in having a stable home.
“And with this home, it’s not just ‘here’s a house’. You really hope to change the belief system in children who have had so much trauma.
“You really hope that as children they learn that other people are going to stand up for you, that there are good people in the community that are there for you.
“I think that message, as a child, can’t go unnoticed. That message, of having had your whole world torn apart and then having all these incredible good Samaritans to come forward and say, we’re not ok with this either, is something that will impact those kids forever.”
Many of those who contributed will be present tonight to cheer the family as they step into their new home for the first time.
Ms Smith said it will also be an opportunity for herself, Danielle, Rhys and the eight happy souls who last night excitedly packed their bags to say thanks to those who helped.
“It’s been a hard time in the sector and that doesn’t go unnoticed from all of us, the contribution that people have made,” she said.
“There hasn’t been a single person who hasn’t given what they had, even if it was just their time, even if that was all they could afford.
“I think two things happen in crises. One, we disassociate, and we go that’s not us, that wouldn’t happen to us. And two, we feel powerless to do anything.
“The only thing I did in this situation was to make it relatable, to say, this is us now guys, this is not someone different, this is in our back yard. And to give people a vehicle to contribute.
“And everyone stood up.”
BUSINESSES PROUD TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED
Gold Coast businesses involved in a project to build a new home for the children of slain mum Kelly Wilkinson say they are extremely proud to have contributed to the cause.
Dozens of local businesses big and small have donated materials, time and labour free of charge to bring the project to life for Kelly’s three children. They have lived with their aunt, uncle and five cousins since their mother’s untimely death.
The family’s living arrangements have spilled out into living areas, but today they will walk into a brand new seven-bedroom home, built by hundreds of local tradies in a project spearheaded by construction industry trailblazer Tamika Smith and Metricon Homes.
Ms Smith is a Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year by Harvey Norman ‘Entrepreneurs’ winner from 2021.
Among the many companies to take part was family business Annand Electrical, operated from Currumbin for more than 30 years.
Daniel Annand said his company was “very proud” to be involved.
“(Kelly’s death) rocked the whole local community, that something like that could happen so close to home,” Mr Annand said. “It was definitely a good opportunity to get involved and help out alongside Metricon Homes, who have been a massive client for us for nearly 30-odd years.
“We’re very proud to be associated.”
Mr Annand, whose company did wiring and other electrical work at the property, said they had been helped by suppliers who provided materials free of charge.
“We were also supported by a lot of our suppliers as well that provided a lot of materials at their own cost. Red Earth that actually supplied a battery for the family as well,” he said.
“I can’t wait to see (the family’s reaction). I’m sure they’ll love it.”
Another of many Gold Coast-owned-and-operated companies to pitch in was Australian Timber & Trusses (ATT) in Nerang, who provided the sub-floor for the house.
Sales manager Andrew Proctor said his company, employing 100 people, were very happy to help.
“We’re proud to be a major partner with Metricon Homes, who we’ve had a great partnership with for a lot of years,” Mr Proctor said.
“They’ve come to the party with the house for Kelly, which from a community point of view was great.
“And then clearly we were very happy, being a local Gold Coast business, privately owned and 40 years on the Gold Coast, to support a very good cause through Metricon.
“It was good we had the opportunity.”
Mr Proctor said materials suppliers to his business had also provided products free.
“We all saw a need to put it together and like other companies have with other components of the house we joined in and did our part,” he said.
“The construction industry bands together for causes like this very well and this is another good example.”
Hudson and Hardings general manager Chris Fudge said he was not surprised so many local businesses had put up their hands.
With Hudson and Hardings suppliers, it helped provide hardware, sinks and basins, electrical appliances and other materials,
“The Gold Coast construction industry is still small enough everyone knows someone that knows someone and is full of great people who are always around to offer a hand when needed.
“I wasn’t surprised to hear of all the great businesses that chipped in to help and it’s always a true measure of success in a community when people rally to support those that need a hand up through a tough time.”
Mr Fudge said his company was “excited and proud” to be involved.
“We have had a strong business relationship with Metricon for 18 years and when they asked if Hudson/Hardings would be interested in supporting them in building a home for Kelly’s kids we were on board day one and happy to help,” he said.
Metricon CEO Brad Duggan said the company “didn’t hesitate” when the opportunity arose to build a new home for the family.
“We were deeply touched by this incredible family’s story, and as Australia’s leading home builder we are committed to ensuring everyone loves where they live,” he said.
“We would like to take the opportunity to thank all the Metricon team who made this build possible. A lot happens behind the scenes to build a home that we can gift like this.
“We especially would like to sincerely thank all the volunteer Metricon trade and suppliers, who so generously donated their time and resources to help us deliver this beautiful Metricon home. Their commitment has been unwavering.”
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