Warwick is on schedule to have a new Women’s Support Centre in place in just under two months but they still need plenty of support according to those working behind the scenes to make it happen.
Protea Place Warwick is currently being established in the old Uniting Church Manse and it’s been all hands on deck as committee members, helpers, local businesses and community members rally around to get the new centre up and running.
The centre is being run under the banner of Protea Place Toowoomba, who are lead agency in helping get it off the ground, and Toowoomba CEO and founder Amanda Dalton said she was really pleased at how things were tracking so far.
“Everything is going well and on track with the plans. Our official open date is still locked in for Monday 3 July,” she said.
“We wanted to have all funds raised by the end of May.
“So far, we have about $13,000 to go to reach the goal. In order for us to open we need to reach this goal.
“All donations over $2 are tax deductible as we are a registered charity.”
Amanda said the renovation work has been moving ahead quickly and they will be looking for donations to decorate soon.
“The renovation work has been going well and the volunteers have been working really hard. Most of them are in their 70s and 80s,” she said.
“Once all of the work has been completed we will be looking to decorated and furnish the site.
“We are hoping to do this in mid-June.
“We would love donations of indoor plants, wall art, pictures and prints small occasional furniture like lamp tables, lamps.
“We are unable to receive and store the items until early June as the renovation site is still very much a reno site.
“We are no longer looking for a filing cabinet and microwave as these items have been promised.”
When the project was launched late last year, Amanda explained that it would be a day refuge.
“We won’t provide accommodation, that’s a whole other ball game but what we do is provide crisis support of a hot lunch, showers, laundry, clothing, case management, support around housing and homelessness, domestic and family violence and then a whole other range of complimentary dignity type services and also referrals to special services – counselling, legal support and a whole heap of other things,” she said.
Amanda said the idea to provide the day support centre, came from the Warwick community themselves.
“Protea Place has been operating here in Toowoomba since 2019,” she said.
“Probably about 12 months or so ago I started receiving emails and calls from different individuals and groups over in Warwick about wanting to see if they could have something similar over there.
“The first questions were really about – how do we start something up. Then once I told them what had gone into creating this, they went ok, can you come to Warwick.
“I sent them off with a bit of a list of things they would need to consider and things that would need to be created in order to replicate that in the Warwick Community and to really make sure it was representative of the community.
“I’m really big on place-based initiative because what Toowoomba does is going to look very different to what Warwick has what any other region would do because all regions are unique.”
At the time of launch Amanda said they had been needing to raise $130,000 – which was enough money to cover 12 months operation at two half days a week.
She said the push was on now to get everything they needed to finally launch the service after all the months of hard work and fundraising.
She said as well as donations of money, the centre would need a lot of other donations and support to get them up and running and keep them operating in the future.
N o w a n d O n g o i n g people could help in all sorts of ways including in-kind services, in-kind donations, volunteering (limited), donations, holding a fundraiser and sponsorship.
For those wanting to help in the most practical way, the centre has a wish list of items that will be needed to make the centre a welcoming place for women and children in need.
These include: a large dining table with 10 chairs, large lounge suite, several arm chairs, outdoor setting, TV unit, large TV (New), book shelves, hallway buffet, small lamp and occasional tables, pantry cupboards with shelves, wall art, soft furnishings, indoor plants Heavy duty vacuum cleaner (new), commercial clothing hanging racks, shelving for clothing, office furniture, desks, chairs, printer/copier, office and stationary supplies, large non-stick fry pan, large slow cooker, quality saucepan set, baking trays, kitchen utensils, white dinner sets, quality knife set, cutlery sets and miscellaneous kitchen appliances.
Also on the list is toiletry supplies (shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, tooth brushes and paste, body wipes, sanitary items, skin and body care products), 12 large white bath sheet towels, six bath mats, 12 hand towels, six laundry baskets, large clothes airer, two heavy duty mops and buckets, three brooms, two dustpan and brush sets, cleaning products, non-perishable grocery items to stock pantry, quality pre loved clothing and footwear, handbags and toiletry bags.
The committee are asking for the furniture and items to be new or excellent condition.
For further information on donating contact Kathy Payne on Kathyp@protea.org.au.
