This year, a Northern Tasmanian woman separated from her husband.
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The eight-year marriage was violent, and marred by an alcohol dependency that made it a living hell.
One Australian woman is killed every week in a domestic violence situation, but this woman was able to leave and strike out on her own.
We won’t share her real name to protect her privacy, but let’s call her Bianca.
Bianca’s ex-husband wasn’t only her abuser – he was also a partner in the business they built together.
Since she left, he has found ways to prevent her from receiving any income.
They lived in a house together, but the only name on the dotted line is his.
When Bianca left, she lost everything. She is 20 kilograms lighter since the separation, because she can’t afford to eat regularly.
She has a medical condition, and at times, hasn’t been able to afford the vital medication. She is suffering; physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Bianca doesn’t receive a cent from Centrelink.
Because she is still technically a partner in a business, even though her ex-husband has blocked her from participating in anything but name only, she isn’t eligible for any benefits.
Like 6000 other Northern Tasmanians this year, the only safety net there to catch her after she slipped through the cracks was City Mission.
Cases like Bianca’s are only getting more and more frequent.
According to City Mission chief executive Stephen Brown, their client load increased by 400 individuals this financial year alone.
“Primarily they come in for support, whether that be large bills, stifling debt, some form of counselling, or simply just having run out of money,” he said.
“Particularly families who have to pay for education, there will just not be enough money for food.
“Our clients live week-to-week, so they don’t have the capacity to meet unexpected costs: car breakdowns, school fees, an $1100 power bill because they live in a house with poor insulation.
“The scenario for many people is they really don’t have enough money to make ends meet.”
Women fleeing domestic violence, struggling parents that can’t afford to feed their kids, children born into drug-addicted families: these are the people that are assisted by The Examiner’s Winter Relief Appeal via City Mission.
The appeal is needed more than ever.
Forty per cent of City Mission clients have been impacted by rental stress as housing becomes increasingly expensive, and Mr Brown said more people are skipping food and sacrificing utilities in order to keep a roof over their heads.
Some of them don’t succeed. More than 1600 Tasmanians are sleeping rough tonight, and many more are making do with only their car or a friend’s house for shelter.
City Mission assists people like this in a myriad of ways.
They offer financial assistance, crisis accommodation, counselling services, emergency transport, programs for children, drug and alcohol recovery, free meals, and all sorts of other kindnesses, big and small, that can make the crucial difference to someone who is struggling.
All of these services are only possible thanks to the kindness of the local community.
“There are a lot of people in Launceston that recognise that there are people in different situations, and their hearts aren’t hardened to that,” Mr Brown said.
“Many people give regularly each year to the Winter Relief Appeal, and without their generosity we wouldn't be able to do what we do.”
With access to counselling services and financial assistance, Bianca is now on her way to getting back on her feet. She’s gone from not being able to eat, to being given the helping hand needed to start piecing her life back together.
Over the past 60 years, our readers have chipped in more than $3 million for the Winter Relief Appeal charities, with every dollar going towards Northern Tasmanians in need.
The 2018 appeal closes on Friday, with $68,194.92 raised so far at the time of writing – far in excess of the original target of $60,000.
“We’re just overjoyed that the target has been reached because it enables us to disperse some of those funds to the emergency relief providers in the community, where there’s so much need,” Mr Brown said.
“It has been a cold and tiring winter for many people, so this last opportunity to donate will keep people better fed and warm for these last few weeks of winter.”
City Mission is one of four charities assisted by the appeal, along with St Vincent de Paul’s, the Salvation Army, and the Benevolent Society.
Frances Vinall
Frances Vinall is a journalist at The Examiner, Launceston. Contact her at frances.vinall@examiner.com.au
Frances Vinall is a journalist at The Examiner, Launceston. Contact her at frances.vinall@examiner.com.au
