Redland City Mayor Karen Williams has urged the State Government to support the massive fundraising effort of its Dîner en Rouge events for families affected by domestic violence and become a partner in providing more crisis accommodation in the City.
Cr Williams said the money raised at the third Dîner en Rouge took the total to more than $220,000 and showed that the Redlands community was committed to tackling domestic violence.
“There is State land in the city ideally suited for crisis accommodation, so we hope this money will entice the State Government to join with us to provide the crisis accommodation we so desperately need,” Cr Williams said.
“There are currently only seven crisis accommodation units across the bayside catering for a population of more than 150,000 but they are in high demand so we want to build at least another four.
“With the State Government’s help we can take the money already raised through Dîner en Rouge and make it happen. I am confident construction can start with weeks of the State Government getting on board.
“It would be a great investment in the future.”
Cr Williams, who is Queensland’s local government representative on the Australian Government Department of Social Services Reference Committee for a local government domestic, family and sexual violence prevention project, said she never ceased to be amazed by the generosity and commitment of Redlanders who wanted an end to domestic and family violence.
“We had 220 people at Saturday’s Dîner en Rouge in the Alexandra Hills Hotel conference centre and were thrilled to take the total raised since they began two-and-a-half years ago to more than $220,000, including two truly amazing donations – $100,000 from a long-time resident now in his 90s and $50,000 from an honorary Redlander committed to the cause,” Cr Williams said.
“Of the total, $10,000 has been provided to the Maybanke Accommodation and Crisis Support Centre for a security system, with the rest in a fund awaiting support from the State Government.’’
Cr Williams said the gala event – attended by the state Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman and Police Commissioner Ian Stewart and MC’ed by media personalities Heather Foord and Darren Curtis – was run by Council in partnership with local Zonta clubs, Soroptimist International, Rotary Club of Cleveland, Redland Foundation and local domestic and family violence service advocates.