Life’s pretty neat at Pete’s for a Rocky pensioner

YEARS ago Kevin Parsons wouldn’t dare go outside his room after 9pm.

Kevin Parsons has lived at Pete’s Place for the past 18 years and reckons it’s pretty good. With rising living costs he says he does have to budget carefully. Picture: Chris Ison Rokccosts

YEARS ago Kevin Parsons wouldn't dare go outside his room after 9pm.

But these days Kevin is as comfortable as ever living in Pete's Place on Kent St, Rockhampton.

For 18 years the former stockman has been living at the low-cost accommodation provider and has experienced the highs and lows of the place.

The pensioner said he feared for his life at one time at the former Sisters of Mercy residence, which now has 96 rooms for both men and women.

"It's good now. It's changed a lot over the last four years," said Kevin, who believed only his youngest son knew he was living there.

"Years ago you wouldn't be game to go outside your room because you were too scared you'd get bloody stabbed."

With the rising cost of utilities, the $130 a week for accommodation and electricity isn't too hard to handle for the pensioner, who receives the fortnightly age pension.

"You learn to live on it," Kevin said.

"You wouldn't get anywhere cheaper to rent around town."

Under new ownership, and under the watchful eye of manager Shawn Hogan, the place has been transformed.

Residents now have shared kitchen facilities, fridges in their rooms and are under the constant watch of 32 security cameras.

Kevin arrived at Pete's Place in June 1995 and never thought he'd be still there today.

"After about four or five months I thought there must be a place better than this around," he said.

"There used to be drugs and all sorts of trouble in here then. But, now you can go outside and you can leave your door open - you don't have to worry."

Originally published as Life’s pretty neat at Pete’s for a Rocky pensioner