VIEW ORIGINAL TEXT BY CONOR BURKE, THE DAILY ADVERTISER
A month after Wagga councillors voted near-unanimously to give themselves a pay rise, I decided to take a different approach. On Friday morning, I donated the entirety of my annual pay bump, approximately $2,500, to local homeless shelter Edel Quinn.
I made this donation, excluding the super, as a gesture of goodwill to show my commitment to our community. Edel Quinn is a fantastic organisation that has been around for many years, providing essential support to homeless men in our district. They don’t receive enough assistance in my eyes, and I urge the community to step forward and do more to support them.
In light of recent events involving the homeless at Wilks Park, the importance of places like Edel Quinn has never been clearer. This incident coincided with the timing of the pay rise, which went through just last week. We’ve experienced a lot of turmoil with the Wilks Park situation, and it’s time for us to stop the recriminations. We need to work together across agencies, governments, and all sides of politics to find solutions and support our community.
Joshua Haworth, team leader of accommodations at Edel Quinn, mentioned that donations like this are incredibly impactful. Such contributions significantly aid their efforts to assist the rough sleeping community, especially through initiatives like their breakfast club. Donations directly benefit those in need, such as the individuals at Wilks Park.
For me, this donation is a way to show that we are all in this together. As the cost of living continues to rise, it is crucial that we stick together and support one another. I call on the wider community to come up with solutions. Waiting for governments to provide the necessary resources often takes too long, and we can make a difference by acting now.
Your support and engagement are vital as we strive to make Wagga a better place for everyone. Let’s work together to create a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
