Relief centre land push

Geelong council finds potential site for northern food hub

GEELONG councillor Pat Murnane has vowed to continue advocating for a new food relief centre as council comes closer to identifying a suitable block of land.

Negotiations between the Geelong Food Relief Centre and Geelong council to secure a new site for a food hub have been ongoing for more than a year.

“The good news is that we are very close — suitable land has been identified and we have contacted the State Government about a possible site,” Cr Murnane said.

The new centre is believed to be slated for the northern suburbs.

“The current situation where approximately 8000 people last year presented themselves to welfare organisations throughout our city requesting assistance to feed themselves and their families is unacceptable, and a standard I cannot and will not accept,” Cr Murnane said. “Council officers have been working diligently … to find suitable land.”

Geelong Food Relief Centre currently has two outlets, one in North Geelong and one in the city centre, where people can come and use vouchers provided by social services to obtain food. They also distribute food across the region.

Cr Murnane said he was working closely with council colleagues to progress the project as quickly as possible.

He said council’s budget included $75,000 planning works.

“My passion for this project started when I was introduced to the work of the Geelong Food Relief Centre and the homeless centres in our city at Samaritan House in Newcomb and the Drop In Centre at the Old Geelong Gaol site,” Cr Murnane said.

“We all know the sound of a child crying, but the sound of a hungry child crying is a very different sound.

“If you have not looked into for early the eyes of parents who cannot feed their children, I suggest you do it one day and I can assure you it will send a chill down your spine.

“But it is not just food; it’s all the basic essentials of life. Have you ever showered without soap? Washed your hair without shampoo? Cleaned your teeth without toothpaste? Or washed your clothes without detergent? If not, then walk a mile in those shoes and see what life is like.”

Cr Murnane said it was no wonder that some children did not want to go to school for fear of being bullied.

“But without an education, there is no job, without employment there is poverty and with disadvantage comes a range of other social problems.

“It’s time for more united leadership and co-operation on this issue.”

Geelong Food Relief Centre chairman Ross Stephens recently said the situation was frustrating but he hoped an end was in sight.