AN Albury shower for homeless people will itself not be tied to a permanent home.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The shower newly installed in the rectory grounds of St Matthew’s Church is a portable structure that can be shifted if required.
Already in use, the facility was blessed by Bishop John Parkes on Sunday.
Archdeacon Peter MacLeod-Miller said the wish to complete the project efficiently led to the portable choice.
“So this shower will never be made homeless itself,” he said with a laugh.
“If something else does happen on the spot where it currently is, it can be moved somewhere else."
The demand for such a feature became apparent when a temporary shower loaned by Zauner Construction was used almost every day.
“Over the holiday period, there are far more people who are vulnerable in that way because a lot of places close down,” Father MacLeod-Miller said.
“And a lot of people end up, well they're not out in the cold but they're certainly out in the heat.
“Sleeping under the stars might be romantic for one night but actually if that becomes your lot in life, it can become quite unromantic and uncomfortable.”
The central location could assist people who were travelling or preparing to appear in court.
“They're able to have a shower, but also a bit of a scrub up and also have a new change of clothes that we're also able to give them,” he said.
Father MacLeod-Miller thanked schools, businesses, community organisations and individuals for their support and donations.
“We've certainly been advocates for this and we're very glad to give it a home but it's actually a gift from the people of Albury,” he said.
Victory Lutheran College students held a soup day in August that raised about $1500 for the shower and also created about 50 toiletry packs.
Teacher Valerie Ratcliff said they took up to 300 orders for soup and bread rolls from Border businesses and made about 50 litres of soup.
“And then we set up shop at St Matthew’s, in the rectory and the students delivered them on foot or by a bus, school bus,” she said.
“They liked the idea of having a target, like the shower block that they were going to try and earn all the money for and make it happen. It was a fantastic experience for the kids.”
