Aussie family in Qld is homeless, desperate.

[bambu]

"Where are the rights of the true-blue Aussie"? ... We the People are calling the radio now and asking, having heard Catherine Bolt speak of her family's plight.

She's written an open letter to the PM and Qld Premier.
She's also written the letter on behalf of all those in the same plight as she and her family.
Her second marriage, she had 3 children from her first marriage, her second husband had 2 children, and they've had 4 children together.
A true-blue Aussie family!

They've always worked, and paid their own way.
They've never been on welfare, and always paid their bills.
They save their money and pay cash for hospital treatment.
They're employed.
They can pay rent for a house, but just can't get one, so they're all living in a pop-up camper trailer in some 'tent city' in Qld somewhere...all 11 of them.
They had to move to Qld because one of the young girls has breathing problems.
Catherine is well spoken, has brought her kids up to be compassionate citizens, and she said they all understand why they're living in the trailer and don't complain.
Catherine said all they'd like is somewhere to have a shower on a regular basis, plug in to the power grid 24/7, and have some basic living standards for the family.
Some of the young ones are a lot scared of the dark she said.


No worries, they should just hire a boat and sail into the Bay at Christmas Island as a refugees...having thrown all their identification into the sea.

Yes, no money or 'free' housing for a true-blue Aussie family/families.

[Senexx]

Are they on the Housing Commission waiting list?  It doesn't sound like it because where health is a concern, sometimes these matters can be expedited.  And no commission housing isn't 'free' and the rent is based on what you earn.
Admittedly there's probably not a house big enough but there were bigger families than this in the 50s living in the smallest houses imaginable.
Though it sounds rather American since we don't call them trailers

[bambu]

Yes we do, I tow one behind my car!...so does she now, apparently.

Never taken govt benefits, tried to pay their own way...friends criticised them and said 'take the benefits'.
Now that they're taking the benefits people are bagging them for being on welfare.
Of course.

http://catherinebolt.com/?p=316

My name is Catherine Bolt and I am many things.

Firstly, I am one of the estimated 100,000 homeless people living in Australia today. I say estimated because homelessness in Australia is far from an exact science and for the most part these people live hidden and ashamed from the rest of society.
I have made the choice to make my homelessness public through my blog and active online social networking. I do so because I am not ashamed of who or where I am and I know I have acted with honour.

I have been homeless since the 17th of December, 2009. I spent Christmas day under a make-shift shelter made from tarpaulins at a showground in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. I have survived several weeks of torrential rain, although my tents have flooded and much of our clothing and food was destroyed by damp, mould and mildew.

I have travelled around camping at showgrounds and in National Parks in South East Queensland – we cannot afford to stay in a conventional caravan park during peak school holiday periods.

>>>>>

"If she doesn't have power how does she have a computer?"...the People line up to bag her.
Maybe she goes to the club and plugs into a power point near the bar and sits on the floor, like I saw a young Asian guy doing, eh? 
"Cool man, smart kid...free stuff" I thought. 

[kim from usa]

What do you call trailers then? I have a camper but its a trailer too.

[Patricia]

quote Bu - No worries, they should just hire a boat and sail into the Bay at Christmas Island as a refugees...having thrown all their identification into the sea.


Will attempt another post on this -

Have to agree with you on this Bu given what we've seen over the last few months...at least in a detention centre they'd have a solid roof over their heads...sad story.

[Senexx]

If she means a trailer, trailer as in say something to haul rubbish to the tip in, fair enough but if she means trailer as in caravan, *shakes head*

[kim from usa]

If she means a trailer, trailer as in say something to haul rubbish to the tip in, fair enough but if she means trailer as in caravan, *shakes head*

Ah, that is what the Brits called it. We lived in a caravan in England, it was a trailer as in a single wide trailer but not the kind you tow behind a car or a truck. It was a permanent dwelling not something to camp in.
We have a small camper now, just enough for me and the bride and it has all the comforts. I guess we could live in that but it would not be fun for long. We did 3 weeks once and it started to get old. I could have lasted for months but if she is not happy then you know how that is. Lots of people living in campers here right now, people had good jobs and bought too much house not giving a thought about the future and then get layed off and lose everything.

[tilly]

If she means a trailer, trailer as in say something to haul rubbish to the tip in, fair enough but if she means trailer as in caravan, *shakes head*

after reading her blog...I think she means one of those camper trailers where the ends come out...and she is paying 400 per week rent for it  ......some of the family are in tents and atm they are staying in a showground on the Sunshine coast as the caravan park rents are too expensive in school holidays...
apparently they were evicted from their rental accomodation last year...rent arrears I think...


her husband is unemployed for the first time in 27 yrs and the department of housing guidlines do not allow that many people (11) in smaller houses ( less bedrooms)...so...

It would be near on impossible to find an estate agent that is willing to rent say a 3 or 4 bedroom house to a family of 11...also they usually check with the owners re tenants and I cannot imagine many landlords choosing this many people over a smaller family...

[Senexx]

It is the first time I've heard an Australian refer to those items as a trailer and I can't say I'm happy about that.  It may be a camper van and as far as I'm concerned that makes it a van in the same sort of vein as a caravan.

Kim, much of Australian culture is inherited from British culture.

[Patricia]

What an incredibly sad story ...... I hope that someone out there comes to their aid & offers them some accommodation. Regards the "camper trailer" I think it refers to a modified trailer with a fold out canvas tent attached to the top ...generally end up with a bed  atop the trailer & then small canvas area adjacent to the trailer.

[Minx]

Interesting story...also interesting that she has dated the letter as an American uses the dating sequence 01.06.2010 rather than the waymost of us do...6.1.10

[bambu]

She's a writer and one of those humanitarian type people.
My guess is she does a lot of work overseas and writes the date like that for an international market:

http://catherinebolt.com/?p=316

I am a humanitarian and conservationist who founded a not for profit organisation which exists to increase the quality of life of underprivileged and orphaned children through family placement, housing, education and emotional nourishment. And to lead the children to a life of compassion & understanding of the environment by creating sustainable lifestyles which enable them to live in harmony with the planet. Our Association is dedicated to raising enough funds to build an orphanage and wildlife refuge in Sumatra Indonesia by December 2010.

>>>>>

Noble causes indeed.

Not taking all the govt benefits available to her starting long ago was a bad idea IMO.
Now look where she is.

"Look after yourself first in this world, son...because nobody else will" - my first boss [bank manager], on the first day I started work at age 18.

And now she and her family are living:

I have been homeless since the 17th of December, 2009. I spent Christmas day under a make-shift shelter made from tarpaulins at a showground in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. I have survived several weeks of torrential rain, although my tents have flooded and much of our clothing and food was destroyed by damp, mould and mildew.

Australia gives other countries $4,000,000,000 every 52 weeks....four thousand millions dollars.
Not 4 million dollars, 4,000 million dollars....20,000 million dollars every 5 years.

Maybe a kind-hearted Aussie mum and her family, and our other homeless people, should get a slice of it, eh?...and now.

Spending Christmas day under tarps and  "my tents have flooded and much of our clothing and food was destroyed by damp, mould and mildew" would be the absolute worst.
Imagine it.


One of the radio family's ["uneducated knuckle-dragging neanderthals" according to ABC bloggers over the ETS] listeners rang in and offered the family some new furniture from his store if they wanted it when they got somewhere to live.
Another man rang in and said there's a 7 bedroom Dept Housing home in western sydney next to him vacant now.
I bet there's one in Qld too like that, if Anna looked hard enough.

Not everyone has 9 children...this is a special case...and this Aussie family should be helped now.

Even some tents like the ones the Vic bushfire victims are living in.

[bambu]

Camper trailers, from small, to larger, to large:

Like box trailer with a camp inside, or a fold down caravan, they come in all shapes and sizes.

http://www.giccampers.com.au/?gclid=CKqQ1cL7kp8CFccvpAodvnlT3A

>>>>>

I hate camping.
Many people love it.
Each to his own.
Family of 11 doing it in pouring rain and permanently?...not much fun I'd say.
Home in a box trailer with your 9 kids...having paid taxes all your life?
That could easily be your fate in Australia today.

[kim from usa]

This is my little camper trailer. Its an old 1986 model but it is what is called self contained. It has an internal water tank and 12v pump for pressure, a gas water heater, a gas furnace to heat in the cold, a toilet, a shower,refridgerator,  TV antenna and room for at least 4 to sleep. Our first camper was a pop up type and you could hear the wind and it would shake and it had the canvas ends that moved out, but it was a lot of trouble to deal with. Ours has only the awning to put out if you want it It is a tiny one, but suits just the bride and I very well.
Most would be more suited to a 5th wheel type camper, but what is the use in having one and a truck to pull that for only vacation time.
Mine

5th wheel type camper

[bambu]

I would call that a 'caravan' here.

Saw a flashy model of that type of caravan this morning.
'Extanda' model with 'Outback' written on the side...Jayco brand, I'll look it up...looked like the front and back extended somehow...aerodynamic front.
I was turned off caravans and camping when the faaamily went to Qld when I was about 13, towed a caravan with the two-tone FC Holden, and she boiled going up Cunningham's Gap.

I liked 'Jack's' big RV in 'Meet The Fokkers'...roomy cabin, swivel seats, computer room in the 'basement'.