2 weeks Ago By Madeline Link
MARIA Martin was in a race against the clock. Login or signup to continue reading With just six months until Cardiff-based not-for-profit Survivor's R Us would be forced to close its doors, it has been offered a Hail Mary in the form of a $2.8 million promise from Labor's Member for Shortland Pat Conroy.
Ms Martin founded the organisation which provides essential support to victims and survivors of domestic violence, homelessness and unemployment. Survivor's R Us was facing a significant rent rise that would have seen it shuttered in December. Then, "out of the blue", Ms Martin received a call promising the exact amount of money she needed to secure a loan to buy the building they have leased for the past five years.
"I just wouldn't stop screaming because I was so excited," she said. "It would be so hard to close all this down in December because it's not only all the hard work we've done, but it's about the people. "That's the biggest thing, where would these people go? It's been over 130,000 people in eight years that we've helped.
" Survivor's R Us offers counselling, runs a food warehouse and ensures clients have access to life's basics when times are tough. The organisation's rent was set to increase from $365,000 per annum to about $450,000 at the end of this year. If re-elected, Labor has promised it will deliver $2.
8 million to help Survivor's R Us secure finance to purchase the site and secure a permanent home. Ms Martin said it felt "like winning Lotto" and hopes the federal opposition will match the promised support. "We've gone up 400 per cent in clients needing help, that's food, we're getting people that haven't eaten in three or four days and it's mums and dads and kids," she said.
"I've been having sleepless nights for the last year and a bit, I just, I've been so worried about it. "We have dedicated so much time and effort into it, and we don't want to let our clients and people down that need us, because that's the biggest thing, is I couldn't shut those doors knowing there's that many people starving." Mr Conroy made the announcement with Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery following a visit to the service on its eighth anniversary on Monday.
Mr Conroy said Survivor's R Us plays a critical role in supporting some of the community's most vulnerable. "Labor is committed to supporting victims and survivors of domestic and family violence in every way that we can," he said. "During a cost-of-living crisis, these services are more important than ever.
"I want to thank everyone at Survivor's R Us for the important work they do for our community." Madeline Link is a born and bred Novocastrian who started her career as a journalist in the New England North West in 2016. She is an experienced council and court reporter, former deputy editor of the Northern Daily Leader and two-time Kennedy Award finalist.
In unrelated incidents, she previously reported on country music in Australia's country music capital and was once flung across Lake Macquarie in a power boat at more than 100 kilometres per hour. Maddie now works at the Newcastle Herald with a focus on Newcastle council. To keep up with my stories, follow my X @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.
[email protected].
Madeline Link is a born and bred Novocastrian who started her career as a journalist in the New England North West in 2016. She is an experienced council and court reporter, former deputy editor of the Northern Daily Leader and two-time Kennedy Award finalist. In unrelated incidents, she previously reported on country music in Australia's country music capital and was once flung across Lake Macquarie in a power boat at more than 100 kilometres per hour.
Maddie now works at the Newcastle Herald with a focus on Newcastle council. To keep up with my stories, follow my X @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.
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