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QLD news
The CHL team at the Maryborough office showing their appreciation for the Baby Give Back goods they’ve received and been able to hand out to customers in-need.
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In late December, CHQL was excited to commence a new partnership with Baby Give Back (BGB), a Gold Coast based charity that helps families in need.
Since December, we have called on BGB on 11 occasions helping our families with an estimated $5,000 worth of clothing, cots, toys, books, nappies, wipes, and toiletries. Tenants from Roma, Maryborough, Toowoomba and up and down the Gold Coast have been able to benefit. As an added bonus to the relationship with BGB, we discovered recently some of our very own Vision Tenants, who are champion crocheters and knitters, contribute regularly to BGB through the weekly Knit and Chat group at Varsity Lakes Community Resource Centre.
From little things big things grow – Celebrating our origins
Celebrated Aboriginal singer songwriter, Kev Carmody’s 1993 song ‘From little things big things grow’ beautifully captures the achievements of two of our tenants who got together and started something big. Pam and Anne met at a Gold Coast Women’s group and established Gold Coast Vision Housing Limited in 1992. As word of mouth spread, they grew from five to 26 homes. Collectively, this group of tenants are affectionately referred to as the ‘Vision Tenants’. In 2006, we saw the amalgamation of the company with Gold Coast Community Housing and following some name changes over the years, they are now part of CHQL within the CHL Group of Companies. Now in their 80’s and 70’s respectively, Pam and Anne are proud of what they achieved. Pam, former Secretary of Gold Coast Vision Housing said, Vision Tenants meeting with QLD CD Manager, Connie in April, 2021.
“When I look back and think about what we achieved, I am really proud. Housing affordability and housing shortage was a really big problem back then and I’m saddened by how great the need for affordable housing still is today”.
Willy Mitchell, local artist and CHQL resident in Mitchell near Roma.
Supporting Our Tenants – Willy Mitchell’s Art
CS Lewis once said, “You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream”. How true this is for one of our Queensland customers William, who in his later years, has discovered a talent for Aboriginal and bush focused art. Assisted by regional employment agency RESQ+, William’s newly found talent has given him a new lease on life.
William (‘Willy’) Mitchell is a Mitchell boy in more than just name. Born at the local hospital, Willy has lived his whole life in and around the area; one hour’s drive west of Roma, Queensland where one of CHQL regional offices is located.
Meet Connie – CHL QLD’s Community Development Manager
Welcome Connie Crookshanks to the CHQL family and to the newly formed role of Community Development Manager for Queensland. Connie joined us from Churches of Christ Housing Services, where she led on several community engagement initiatives including running tenant engagement groups, writing the tenant newsletters and the most recent Annual Reports. Connie also set up and ran the award winning DigiAsk digital outreach service.
Connie says, “In the last few months, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know tenants, local stakeholders and the wider team at CHQL. I am learning to navigate the Gold Coast; I have had a quick visit up to Maryborough and I have just returned from a trip to Roma”.
