Anglicare’s Domestic Violence Crisis Accommodation six-unit project received a turning of the sod ceremony last Friday afternoon, 31 April, in front of distinguished guests on the Church’s land; the former community garden and old tennis courts on Pritchett Street.
Representatives from Anglicare including new CEO Brandon Howard and Brad Braithwaite, Yass Valley Mayor Allan McGrath and Deputy Mayor Jasmin Jones – along with fellow councillors, members of the St Clement’s Parish, builders Troy Magyar and Reg Magyar from Total Project Construction, Andrew Randall from Randall Dutaillis Architects, along with other members of the community, joined to watch Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain turn the sod at the site to mark the commencement of construction.
The six-unit Domestic Violence Crisis Accommodation Centre has been in the planning stages since 2020, with construction work to commence after Easter from mid-April officially.
The units will fill a desperate need in the community, resonating with Anglicare’s first principle, ‘In the spirit of loving service we offer care and understanding to those in need’.
Speeches by various guests in St Clements Parish preceded the turning of the sod ceremony, which was followed by afternoon tea hosted by the Parish next door.
The Times spoke to Anglicare’s executive team Brad Braithwaite and Brandon Howard following the turning of the sod ceremony to get their thoughts on the important project.
“It’s been a long process but throughout that process, we’ve just seen amazing community spirit. There’s been a lot of funding and planning gone into it,” Braithwaite said.
“Covid led to massive increases in prices for things that we had to go back to the Government for money, but with all these hurdles, the local community has still pursued that it’s going to happen.
“We’re so grateful we’re at the stage now where we’re actually doing it, but it’s taken a few years.
“Originally Kristy McBain’s government gave us a $2.9 million grant, but because of an increase in cost that grants now moved up to about $3.5 million in grant money. The Parish contributed the land.
“Accommodation is tough for everyone particularly if you’re escaping an unsafe environment, you need somewhere to go immediately, and these units will be purpose-built for that.
“We run a refuge in Goulburn so that’s really the first point of call if someone’s in immediate danger. There’s high security there and 24/7 CCTV.
“Then what we do is we try and find people a place of independent living on their own in their community, or if it’s not safe in their community, somewhere, close enough by where they can be looked after.
“That’s what these units will be. They won’t be high security, this is an option for people who have spent two or three months in our crisis refuge, to help get their lives back in shape.”
The crisis accommodation units are expected to be completed construction by the end of the calendar year, with people likely to move in early in 2024.
“Assuming the weather stays kind to us, construction is due to finish on December 15th. Based on that, we’re figuring by February-March next year, they will be filled,” Braithwaite continued.
“People who are escaping domestic violence will get assessed by our specialist service in terms of their needs and the level of risk they might be at.
“Everyone thinks of domestic and family violence as a very physical thing, but it can be various things such as mental abuse as well. There is a range of risk.”
Reverend Ken Rampling formerly of the Yass Valley Anglican Parish was praised by Anglicare for getting the project off the ground.
“Communities are driven by driven individuals who are really passionate, and I can’t think of a better example of that than some of the people I’ve met on this project,” Braithwaite said.
“I have to go back three years to a conversation I had with Kem Rampling who rang us and said, ‘Brad, we want more meaningful partnerships with Anglicare in our community, they already do such a great job in Yass, but we want to do more. As a congregation and as a parish we can do more within our community and we have a community of many needs, how about we make a safe place.’
“Ken got onto it (Safer Spaces grant) before we got onto it because he was looking for ideas for ways that this parish can engage in the local community and social needs.
“The more we looked into it we thought it was a no-brainer, we would love to work with you on this project.”
Brandon Howard has been in his new role as Anglicare CEO for approximately seven weeks, hailing from Geelong.
“I’ve been up here for seven weeks and am humbled to be able to take on the leadership role, leading Anglicare,” Howard said.
“It’s been quite an intense seven weeks, there’s plenty to learn, not only in respect to Anglicare but also its diversity of services and its geographical spread.
“Over those seven weeks I’ve engaged with staff and in some cases, clients as well, just to better understand the organisation. This is one of the first times I’ve been to Yass to get the opportunity to see what the community has done.
“Brad and many others have provided support to be able to pull together a great project like this.”
Tim Warren
