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Craig is a young father with a 4yr old daughter. He began visiting Our Place from the time we opened up. Over that time we have developed a ‘supportive and educational’ role with him and his little girl. We have been able to demonstrate and model positive communication skills where he otherwise just yelled at his daughter and instruct him on hygiene and health matters.
Practically we have been able to help with clothing and food at various times and also provide a positive environment which is a bit like home away from home. Through interactions with staff and volunteers the little girl is now beginning to show signs of improvement in her behaviour and development. |
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Ken is a fairly young man who first came to Our Place looking feeling very lonely’. He was extremely shy. He couldn’t talk to you and look at you at the same time. As he spoke he did so with a nervous laugh. He began volunteering at Our Place a few hours a week and was very, very nervous.
His self esteem and confidence was very low. He needed continual instructions to move from task to task and taking things in was quiet difficult for him but not impossible if he was given adequate time and thorough details he required to process what was being asked of him.
Today he volunteers at Our Place 6 days a week. He now takes initiative in undertaking certain tasks that he has become confident in doing. With on going support and encouragement he has developed a routine in the work place and we see him now stepping up and ready to give ‘new things a go’. |
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Sally’s daughter in law lost 5 family members in the Black Saturday fires and was a devastated woman when she first came through Our Place doors . She was already grief stricken through a recent complicated family breakdown prior to this but with the ‘fires’ as well, was broken beyond being able to cope any more.
Sally cried a lot, she suffered from terrible nightmares and her self esteem and confidence had been shattered . Initially she would call in and we’d listen and offer a shoulder to cry on. In time, she revealed and shared more of her story. After volunteering with us for a time and being around positive people who would affirm her and her talents, Sally now is much more confident and has developed a renewed sense of self worth.
She has found her ‘niche’ at Our Place, has been up skilled with hospitality training and now taking a lead role in our weekly community breakfast and meal preparations. At one breakfast as she walked past she said “Thank you for this place, I only cry half as much now” |
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Another man, who I’ll call Ben is a regular at Our Place. He was the town ‘alcoholic who we’d see go past the back lane every morning at 7:30am on his way to IGA to buy his 2 stubbies of beer. For a time, he’d just walk past. With some consistent persuasion and invitations, eventually he stopped and had some breakfast with us and now is with us 6 days a week volunteering and sober. |
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Anita is a member of the choir at Our Place. She hesitantly joined to force herself ‘out of the house’ for a bit. Anita suffers with extreme anxiety. Leaving home is usually a very stressful event for her but the experience has been so positive, the connections and friendships and support she has received have helped relieve Anita of some of her fears and angst and so much so that her doctor has even noticed the improvement and reduced her medication.
Anita now ‘performs’ with the choir at various functions and is a living testimony to the impact positive relationships can have on a person’s health and well being. Today she is a great advocate for community participation . |
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Then there’s Lisa, a young 16 year old girl, who moved to Bendigo area with her mother and younger brothers and sisters. The family knew no one in the area and had no other significant relationships. Lisa dropped out of school after a few months and was extremely vulnerable and at risk . She came into Our Place with her mother, an ex heroine addict who was getting her life in order and who came looking to volunteer with us.
Lisa developed some supportive relationships at Our Place, she came to admire staff and find some positive role models. She appreciated the support her family received and especially the way they were embraced, encouraged and values. Lisa began to volunteer at Our Place and has now started an apprenticeship.
Recently she wrote.... “I feel very lucky Our Place was set up & I could have the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful community. Before this I knew nobody and spent a lot of time sitting in my bungalow feeling depressed. When I’m sad or confused now I know I can come and see people who care and will listen to me. It’s like having an adopted family” Lisa, 16yrs old. |
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One man who I’ll call Bob, grew up in an orphanage and had a very ‘cruel’ childhood. He used to come to Our Place and was part of one of our craft groups. Every day he would make his way to Our Place with the help of his walker and enjoy the company of those he’d find ‘hanging out’ at Our Place.
When Our Shed opened up he would walk past and look in but never actually go in despite being invited and encouraged to do so. One day he stepped in for a look, today he’s there 5 days a week and tells me “He’s full time now at Our Shed.” I see him now and there’s no walker, he walks and moves freely, he splits kindling, he’s lost a bit of weight and maybe for the first time in his life he feels like a man and has a real sense of valued belonging and worth. |
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