Northern Rivers Local News
COMMUNTIY INITATIVE TO HELP THE HOMELESS THIS WINTER
COMMUNTIY INITATIVE TO HELP THE HOMELESS THIS WINTER
Momentum Collective officially launched its first ever Australian Kindness Wall in Tweed Heads, NSW.
The Kindness Wall is a meaningful and sustainable project where community members can donate jackets or blankets to the people who need them the most.
Marketing Communications Manager, Cassia Cruz
With homelessness being more prevalent than ever, more than 116,000 Australians are experiencing homelessness on any given night. Of those people, around 8,200 ‘sleep rough’ in improvised dwellings, tents, or outdoors. Despite only having 4% of the NSW population, the Northern Rivers is home to 20% of NSW rough sleepers.
Not having a safe and stable place to call home is the stark reality for many people living in Australia. Momentum Collective’s Caseworker, Gail, witnesses firsthand how homelessness impacts her clients.
“When clients of our Specialist Homelessness Service first come to us, they feel a mix of many emotions. Some feel frightened, angry, emotional, and some fear their little children will be removed from them as they have nowhere to go.”
“The statistics are quite alarming. In the last couple of years, we have seen an increase of 27% of homelessness in the Northern Rivers, and 39% being homeless for the first time”, said Gail.
Dr Nola Firth, Tweed shire Councillor, believes the whole community has a shared responsibility in tackling homelessness and caring for each other and the environment.
“An extremely high amount of clothes go to landfill each year, contributing to our environmental crisis. Momentum’s Kindness Wall promotes a positive message of recycling clothes you no longer need and the idea of giving back to the vulnerable people who need our support”.
Marketing Communications Manager, Cassia Cruz (pictured), came up with the idea after brainstorming ways to support homeless people in the freezing temperatures experienced this winter.
Ms Cruz said, “Momentum’s Kindness Wall is a great opportunity for everyone to help those in need and give back to their community. It’s easy, simple and quick. Those who need a jacket can take one, and those who want to donate can leave one. These donated items are handy during the colder seasons as our vulnerable community struggle to stay warm and safe.”
“We want to empower those who would like to help. The idea is to enable community members to look after the wall with kindness, and instead of throwing out what you don’t need, you can give it to someone who may need it.”
The Kindness Wall is located outside the Momentum Collective’s Head Office at 35 Wharf Street, Tweed Heads.
About Momentum Collective:
Momentum Collective is a for-purpose community services organisation creating inclusive social change. We have a proud 40-year track record operating in a suite of programs in disability, mental health, homelessness, social and affordable housing, family and domestic violence, child family and community services.
With over 40 locations in Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Lismore, Casino, Kyogle, Grafton, and Coffs Harbour, the reach extends from Mid North Coast to South East QLD. Last year, Momentum Collective has assisted over 5,500 clients and families across the organisational footprint.
City landmark falls to start $29.5 mil project
By Tim Howard
A Grafton landmark has disappeared in the past week, but it’s proof that a much awaited facility is on target for a December 2024 opening.
The Grafton Memorial Pool waterslide which dominated the landscaping of the pool grounds for decades has come down and heavy machinery has begun tearing up the pool structures and surrounding ground to begin stage one of the $29.5 million project
The head contractor, Bathurst firm Hines Constructions Pty Ltd, has promised Clarence Valley Council it will complete stage 1 of the project, known as the Regional Aquatic Centre, by December 2024.
The first stage will include the indoor facility, which includes two 25 metre pools.
The 50m outdoor pool will be part of Stage 2 of the project
The start of construction will rule out any use of the Grafton Pool site over the summer.
Heavy machiney at work beginning to demolish the pools as part of stage 1 of the Regional Aquatic Project.
In 2022-23, despite the closure of the pool, the water slide was opened at selected times.
The pool has a close connection to the Grafton community
It’s origins go back to December 11, 1943, when 13 Cub Scouts drowned in the Clarence River returning from a picnic on Susan Island.
Findings from the tragedy revealed most of the boys had not learned to swim and the community resolved to raise funds to build a pool so children could learn to swim at an early age.
The name Grafton Memorial Pool was a reference to the boys that died on that day almost 80 years ago.
After fundraising, construction of the pool began in 1954 and it opened in 1956, the year of the Melbourne Olympics.
In the pool’s first year of operation it was visited by a touring squad of Olympic swimmers which included Sport Australia Hall of Famer, Jon Henricks.
During the visit Henricks competed in the 50m freestyle at a club event which he won in 25.60 seconds before going on to Melbourne to become Australia’s first ever Olympic 100m freestyle champion and set a new world record.
Bathurst builder Hines Constructions won the contract for the $29.5 million build of the Regional Aquatic Facility.
Henricks’ record, which stood for 60 years as the fastest 50m in the Grafton Olympic Pool, was beaten in 2016 by local swimmer Charlie Steele in a time of 25.11 seconds.
Over the years the addition of the waterslide and diving pool turned the facility into a regional attraction which brought visitors to the city.
But the past decade revealed issues at the pool, which included a massive water leak.
It is believed the water escaping from the pool into the ground around it has created a sinkhole responsible for the structural instability which forced the council to close the pool ahead of the 2022-23 swimming season.
The council had developed a shovel-ready plan for the Regional Aquatic Centre, which has been used for the current project.
Future stages will include the 50m outdoor pool and two waterslide.
For more local Grafton news, click here.
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