Jamal Ben Haddou – Centralian Advocate 2/8/2019
Appalling conditions in a public housing property have become so unbearable for an elderly Alice Springs woman that she would rather spend her day sitting out in the front yard.
Barbara Davis is a 76 year old lifelong resident of Alice Springs and has been living in her current home for 16 years.
She said the house has deteriorated overtime with wiring damaged by mice, cracks exposing the walls, mould, leakage from the ceiling and power blackouts during heavy rain.
Ms Davis, who is wheelchair bound, also suffers from kidney disease and said she is desperate to get out.
“The electricity isn’t safe. There was one time I got an electrical shock, it threw me backwards and I hit the wall behind me, “ she said.
Ms Davis receives some assistance from her partially blind grandson who carries her into the house because there is no wheelchair ramp.
“We can’t cook on the stove, it doesn’t work. But I get sandwiches after renal treatment,” she said. “I don’t like living here. I’ve wanted to leave for years.” Ms Davies said she has been waiting to be moved this year and has difficulty in making applications to the housing department on her own.
A spokesperson from the Department of Local Government, Housing and Community Development said works were carried out on the property over the last year however they have determined a full refurbishment is needed instead.
“The Department of Local Government, Housing and Community Development has determined a full refurbishment is an appropriate course of action, rather than ongoing maintenance, “ they said.
“This will require for the tenant to transfer to appropriate accommodation as it becomes available, to allow for full access to this site.”
Natasha Craigie-Braun is a relative of Ms Davies and said she broke down in tears when she saw the deteriorated house which she would instead expect to see in an impoverished remote community rather than Alice Springs.
In keeping with our promise to share recipes that were sent into DAS for the 2011 International Day of Persons with A Disability, please see a recipe for Acacia Kempeana Jam Slice with Outback Passionberry and Fig Jam from Jeannie Mitinkeri from Life Without Barriers. Enjoy.
Preparation time: 30-45 minutes
Ingredients: 3 eggs separated 3/4 cup caster sugar 1/2 cup plain flour 1/2 cup cornflour 2 teaspoons baking powder 300ml thickened cream 2 more teaspoons caster sugar 2 drops vanilla essence 1/2 bottle Passionberry and Fig jam
Method: Beat egg whites until peaks form. Gradually add 3/4 cup caster sugar and continue until sugar is dissolved. Beat in egg yolks until combined. Sift flour, cornflour and baking powder together twice. Gently fold sifted ingredients into beaten egg mixture until no flour pockets remain. Mixture should be light and fluffy, do not overmix. Place half the mixture on greased oven slice tray. Bake at 170 degrees C for 15-20 minutes until golden. Cool completely
With other half of mixture: Place heaped teaspoons of mixture about 5cm apart on a greased tray (makes 16 discs). Bake at 170 degrees C for about 10 minutes or until golden. Cool completely.
To make layered slice: Spread base with Passionberry and Fig jam. Whip cream together with two teaspoons of caster sugar and a drop of vanilla essence. Crumble 16 discs and sprinkle over cream. Drizzle passion pulp over top for a finishing touch
- In the Northern Territory, 13 717 people are experiencing homelessness right now. This is 12 times the national average.
- We all need a safe, secure and affordable place to sleep each night. Without one, it’s harder for sick people to get better (and they’re more likely to get sick!), families are more likely to break-down, and children are less likely to get the education they deserve
- Across the Northern Territory 2505 women were turned away from services in 2017-18 alone. Many of these women are experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence and urgently need a safe place.
- Approximately forty-seven percent of all people seeking homelessness services reported family and domestic violence as a reason for seeking assistance. Yet in the NT, almost half of the people seeking help are unable to be assisted.
- 16.5% of all Territorians under the age of 18 are experiencing homelessness.
- 81% of people defined as homeless in the NT live in severely crowded dwellings.It could be your neighbour
- Despite the highest rates of homelessness in the country, the NT receives the least amount of funding support from the federal government.
- The NT receives just $19 million in funding from the Federal Government – eight times less than the $157 million in funding WA receives despite having a smaller homeless population of about 9000. #howsthatfair
- Housing Ends Homelessness: We need homes that people can afford and an adequately funded service sector. Getting stuck on a housing waitlist for 6 years is unacceptable (average wait times across the territory range from 4 – 8 years)
- Homelessness results in significant social and economic costs not just to individuals and their families, but also to communities and the nation as a whole. The annual cost to the community of rough sleeping has been estimated as exceeding $25 000 per person
‘Life After The Oasis’
Friday August 9 – 6pm for 6:30pm
Flynn Church Lawns, Todd Mall
While cleaning up the DAS office, a folder was found with recipes for 2011’s International Day of Person’s With A Disability – Mixed Abili ‘T’ Bake Off. Nominations were called for recipes from people with a disability or from a disability organisation, NGO or business.
Rather than wait until Tuesday 3 December for this year’s IDPWD (please take note) to post these awesome recipes, we thought ‘Why not share the yumminess now’. Every attempt will be made to credit each recipe with its Bake Off applicant, however some author’s have been separated from their recipes since 2011. If you recognise a recipe as belonging to a particular person, please contact DAS so we can attribute properly.
First recipe is from Daniel Benson (Life Without Barriers)
Danny’s Delicious Lemon Meringue Slice
Preparation time: 60-90 minutes Cooking time: 40 minutes + 3 hrs chilling time
Ingredients: Base 1 1/2 cups plain flour 2 tbs icing sugar 125g butter, chilled and chopped 2 1/2 tbs iced water
Method: Sift flour and sugar into a bowl. Rub in the butter with your fingertips until it looks like breadcrumbs. Add water and using a round-bladed knife, stir until a dough forms. Turn the dough onto baking paper and roll out to a thickness of about 5mm. Line a dish with the pastry. Blind bake at 180 degrees C for 15 minutes. Remove the paper and bake for another 15-20 minutes. Cool completely.
Filling: 1/3 cup cornflour 1/2 cup water 60g butter 1 cup lemon juice 1 1/2 cup caster sugar 4 eggs separated (keep whites for meringue)
Method: Combine cornflour, water, lemon juice and sugar. Whisk over medium heat until it boils and thickens. Cook for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter and the egg yolk. Cover with gladwrap and cool completely for 3 hours in the fridge
Meringue: With electric beaters beat egg whites in a very clean, dry bowl until peaks form. Gradually add sugar 1 tbs at a time until thick and glossy and the sugar has fully dissolved.
To finish: Spread filling over base. Spoon meringue and spread to the edge. Create peaks with the back of a spoon. Bake for 5 minutes until the peaks are lightly golden.
COOL COMPLETELY
4/54 Reg Harris Lane
Wednesday 17 July
Come and meet our new CEO Janet and say goodbye to Val
Have a look at our new Meeting room
Nibblies from Uccello’s
Drop in any time after 11am
For more information call Kathryn on 8953 1422
Saturday 20 July, 12:00 – 1:00pm
Pat Gallagher Netball Stadium
FREE
People with a disability of any age are invited to come and try learning the skills of Netball. This will be followed by a friendly competition on 27 July, 10 August, 17 August, 24 August and 31 August.
Females 16 years or older that are eligible and enrolled in the All Abilities program can nominate to trial for the NT Dragonflies team to compete for the Marie Little OAM Shield (October 11-15 2019 – Brisbane)
To register, email [email protected] Please include participant’s full name, age and an expression of interest (if applicable) to trial for the Marie Little OAM Shield 2019
