Around the Diocese

Starting Over Support

A helping hand initiative from Wagyl Deanery

The Revd Barry Moss, Rector, Parish of Murdoch-Winthrop and Area Dean, Wagyl Deanery

Western Australia is on track for its worst year of family and domestic violence offences in the state’s history. It is on track to pass 40,000 domestic violence-related crimes committed. New data shows restraining orders are being breached every 44 minutes.

Instead of being paralysed by the statistics there are many grass roots ways in which to counter this and help those caught up in it.

Enter Pam Rose tssf a parishioner of Murdoch- Winthrop who, whilst at an Anglican Mothers’ Union Australia (AMUA) meeting, heard about a Mothers’ Union branch working with Anglicare to help those fleeing domestic violence. Whilst they had a safe place to stay, they had nothing but the clothes they were standing in. The idea was to supply these mothers and children with the basic items for their kitchens and bathrooms; things we take for granted.

Pam’s investigation led us to ‘People who Care’ which have a program called ‘Starting Over Support’ (SOS). This free community-based program provides household goods and furniture for individuals or families who have experienced a life-changing crisis, particularly domestic violence. The service is to help survivors re-establish themselves and set up new homes by providing necessary household items. Part of this program is creating a ‘Bucket of Love’ by asking for small donations. Pam passed this information onto parish council, which along with parishioners thought it was a great idea as it wouldn’t cost much for the items.

Whilst the parish could have done a few buckets, I thought that if our whole deanery was involved, we could pool our resources. Somewhat like the story of the loaves and fishes when combined with the Grace of God can meet a need. I contacted each parish in the Wagyl Deanery to ascertain their participation. The parishes involved were; Como-Manning, Bicton-Attadale, Bull Creek-Leeming, Lynwood-Langford-Ferndale, Melville, Mt Pleasant, Murdoch-Winthrop, Riverton and Willetton.

The goal was 50 buckets with each parish allocated 50 items to collect to add to the bucket. Each parish could co-ordinate this in their own way. The aim was to use the season of ‘Sustainable September’ to collect the items such as mops, brooms, dustpans and brushes, toilet paper, surface cleaners, disinfectants and the like.

On receipt of the ‘Buckets of Love’, Kathie Mitchel (Social Justice Team Lead, SOS) sent an email to say:

What an amazing donation – thank you all so very much.
We were overwhelmed with the generosity of everyone. . .
This was the largest donation of Buckets of Love that we have ever received in all the 10 years of SOS operations – truly blessed. . .
So many families will benefit from this wonderful donation – these are products we give to our crisis families every day.
So grateful and wish you all had been here to see the Happy Dances and squeals of delight from us all.

A huge thank you to all the parishes, parishioners and clergy who contributed their funds and time in participating in this most worthy cause in helping those in great need in a vulnerable time.