GENEROSITY turned out to be the main course at Redlands Diner en Rouge on Saturday night.
Victoria Point man Dan Holzapfel, 94, donated $100,000 to the Redlands Foundation’s domestic and violence account while Diner en Rouge committee member and Zonta Club of Brisbane East woman Ros Kinder gave $50,000.
The money will go towards helping women at-risk with emergency accommodation thanks to the philanthropists’ generosity and fundraising efforts.
Redland mayor Karen Williams told diners at the revamped Alexandra Hills Hotel that the generosity of these people had seen the $200,000 target for the Maybanke Accommodation and Crisis Support Centre exceeded.
Mr Holzapfel, who once farmed vegetables in the Redlands and has continued his support for Rotary’s polio eradication program, said he was thankful he could help.
While about $17,000 was raised from the Diner en Rouge and a further $53,000 from other fundraisers and donations garnered over the past two-and-a-half years, Cr Williams said more needed to be done.
She thanked thanked Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Minister Shannon Fentiman for her openness towards the prospect of state funding for Maybanke Accommodation and Crisis Support Centre.
“Together we can make Redlands a safer place for those who, through no fault of their own, find themselves and their children caught in the spiral of abuse.”
“There is still a way to go and I would like to acknowledge Minister Fentiman, Housing Minister Mick De Brenni and the Maybanke Accomodation and Crisis Support Centre for being open to short and longer-term partnerships to submit and progress a successful application for more housing infrastructure and associated support services.”
While the Diner en Rouge committee gave Maybanke a $10,000 cheque for a new security system, the service was not the only beneficiary.
A total of $130,000 in state funding for the Redlands Centre for Women was announced by Ms Fentiman.
Redlands Centre for Women founder Katrina Beutel said the funds would likely be used to employ a social worker and community development officer.
Guests, including Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart, were entertained by Redlands-based soprano Mirusia Louwerse and The Steele Syndicate band.
Red Rose Foundation Australia chief executive Betty Taylor said changing the ending for those at-risk was possible, but only if people’s ears and eyes were open to domestic violence.
Cr Williams also announced her role as Queensland’s local government representative on the Australian Government’s Department of Social Services Reference Committee, which is focused on developing a domestic, family and sexual violence toolkit.
“This toolkit will provide local government with practical information and resources to assist them in partnering with their communities to plan and implement local domestic, family and sexual violence prevention activities,” she said.
She said Redland City Council had partnered with Australia’s CEO Challenge to help raise awareness and support for staff who are victims of domestic violence.
More photos can be found here.