ROUGH NIGHT
Robert Dawson’s struggle for shelter
Wandering the streets of Darwin, sleeping rough in the city’s parks. It wasn’t a reality former mine worker Robert Dawson thought he’d ever have to face, but ongoing unemployment and a messy breakup saw him trapped in the unfortunate situation. Now, thanks to his children and the helping hand of others, he’s managed to pick himself up and move forward — and he has a message for many others who may fall into the same fate.
IT has been a whirlwind of a year for Robert Dawson — 365 days of the highest highs and lowest lows.
In just 12 months, the 29-year-old was made redundant from a mining job in Western Australia before moving to Darwin for his children.
There was no work in the northern capital and it proved even trickier to find some after he lost his licence to a drink-driving charge.
The change was swift and brutal — within the space of a month he had gone from earning the big bucks from the mine to sleeping in Top End parks due to his prolonged unemployment.
Now, he’s back on his feet, sharing his story with others doing it tough to encourage them to go and get the help they need.
“I started off in Port Hedland and came up here due to loss of work after I got made redun- dant,” he said. “I don’t have a trade, I was just a work labourer. I went from getting a role in Port Hedland at the port to other roles from civil works to a technician, plant operator to ship loader. “When I got made redundant, me and the ex had a split, so I actually came up here following the kids, but looking for work didn’t go to plan.” While looking for work, Robert was couchsurfing and staying with friends, which unfortunately did not work out. After weeks of to-ing and froing, he ended up resorting to sleeping in parks. “It was a massive rollercoaster because of the split with the ex going on which made it even harder because I had things on my mind — plus trying to find work and support the kids so all that played a big part in (the challenges),” he said. His son, aged 10, and daughter, aged four, ur, were not made aware of their father’s situation as he believed they ey were too young, but it didn’t stop op them from being his lone motiv- ivation for getting back on his feet. “It was difficult but all I could do was just keep trying,” he said. “I never give up. That’s my motto. It’s got me through life. If you’ve given up, there could have ve been someone that you asked for help. “If you give up, you’ve missed an opportunity. “I had my kids and that’s whathat helped me get through it. The he whole time I was just thinking ng about my kids. I didn’t want themem to see me like that, it’s not right, and nd I kept trying every day. Because of them, I had strength. I tell people to keep their heads up because it will come around. You will get help,lp, what comes around goes around.” ” While roaming around, crashing ng in parks at Malak and Karama,ma, Robert rarely slept, preferring to keep his wits about him and lie awake through the middle of the he night. “What I found hard is that t I thought I would get a job straight ght away,” he reflects. “I don’t know if it was due to o a lack of work around the NT or just ust the skills at the time weren’t there ere for the company that needed them. m. “Being homeless is scary. It’s t’s hard having nowhere to wash sh clothes, limited food which you ou have to buy throughout the day.ay. You can’t just do one big shop because there is no fridge to keep it in, so you’re living from day to day. “Bread goes mouldy so quickly. ly. It’s scary considering where you ou have to sleep. I kept to myself elf and it is hard sleeping in parks because you don’t n’t know what’s going to hap- appen when you’re asleep so you’ve always got your ur wits about you.” ** AS the Top End braces ces for an early wet season, Mission Australia is calling on donations of temporary shelters to help people like Robert, who just needed a safe and dry place to sleep. Recent rainfall has served as a timely reminder of the difficulties homeless Territorians face trying to find a dry place to sleep at night. Mission Australia was one of the organisations that held out a helping hand to Robert when he needed it most, offering him temporary accommodation.
He stayed in a shelter for three months before he signed a lease with a friend in a similar situation.
“One day I went to Mission Australia and at the time, they had one room spare, so I got it. I just asked for help, that’s all I did,” Robert said.
“The whole time I was homeless, I was being proactive and ringing up every day, and that’s what I mean by not giving up.
“If you stay active and you go out and seek help and constantly ask, you’ll get there.”
Mission Australia NT regional leader Christine Knight said thanks to some federal funding, the organisation was in a position to provide emergency relief to people in Darwin and Katherine in desperate need of shelter — but such need was mounting, and resources slimming.
“Over the last three months we have had around 35 individuals requesting shelter in Darwin alone. This does not include the number of other family members and children and only captures those that are aware of and tapping into our Emergency Relief Fund,” she said.
The organisation is pleading with Territorians to donate a tent, tarp or swag to help fill the gap.
“We know that this is a very temporary solution, but if you are looking for somewhere dry and private to sleep, a tent may be the only option,” she said.
“For the cost of a tent or tarp, we could also be helping people with food or other essential household items.”
Robert said a tent or swag would have been ideal and made the world of difference for him during his stint sleeping rough in parks.
“I want other homeless people to never give up and always ask for help and let people know what homelessness is about,” he said.
“It’s not a very good feeling. That’s why I’m glad you have Mission Australia and the (Salvation Army’s) Sunrise Centre to help out with homelessness. If it wasn’t for them, if it wasn’t for these guys, I could be anywhere. I wouldn’t be in the situation that I am now.”
Although now in stable accommodation, Robert maintains his daily struggle to search for employment — and the thought of his children continues to pull him through.
“Over the last three months we have had around 35 individuals requesting shelter in Darwin alone. This does not include the number of other family members and children needing help’’