News

Residents of Wesley Mission's homeless shelter, Edward Eagar Lodge (EEL), recently enjoyed a great trivia night event organised by visitors from the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) course.

The ARLF is a prestigious and internationally-respected programme which enables a select group of committed young leaders from rural, regional and remote Australia the unique opportunity to develop high-level leadership skills as well as business, strategic planning, and inter-personal skills. This helps create a network of leaders with compassion and commitment, strategic thinking and negotiating skills, and the foresight to influence communities, industries, businesses and policy makers. Each year, a small number of students visit EEL to learn about our work and to participate in an activity.

Residents stretched their brains with a great range of trivia questions and later commented: “It all ended too soon” and “when can we have another night like that”.

ARLF Education Manager, Karim Haddad said: “The ALRF group had a very powerful experience and came back very appreciative of your efforts. They also said they needed to ask much tougher questions as some of your clients certainly gave them a ‘run for their money”.

One of the visitors from ARLF, Mary Retallack, a Viticulturist from South Australia, later sent an email of thanks: “We had heard stories from past courses about the significance of the visit to Sydney”, she said.

Mary related a personal story which resonated with her experience at EEL. “My grandfather returned from the Second World War with a chronic drinking problem. I have always recognised the way this impacted significantly on my family life, but had not spent much time thinking about how this had affected him. His name was ‘Spider’ Webb and was well known around the shelters in both Adelaide and Melbourne. The opportunity to visit some of these shelters and gain an insight into the support services offered in Sydney gave me a small insight into his world. I am so grateful there is a safety net available. I know this is heavily reliant on the good will of charities and volunteers with a genuine interest in supporting those who fall ‘through the cracks’. This enforces our social responsibility to not only care but to make sure we make a difference in real terms.”

Mary continued, “Thank you also for the opportunity to enter into your residents’ private space, to share a small insight into your job and what happens at the Edward Eagar Lodge. I was touched by everyone I spoke to and could sense the fragility of life. I gained a small insight into the hardships and the struggles each person is going through. I see ‘street people’ differently now. I will not forget the experience I had last week, it will remain with me for life.”

- David Pocklington, Centre Manager, Edward Eagar Lodge