House sale will aid African orphans
The auction of a new house at Ballina Heights on Saturday could raise $100,000 for locally-based aid group Aussies For Orphans.
And for Aussies For Orphans volunteer and fund-raiser Janelle Gibson, it is an exciting, overwhelming and anxious time.
Janelle is excited about the auction which Aussies For Orphans hopes will raise more than $100,000 for Nakuru Baby Orphanage in Kenya, an orphan project in Malawi, and other associated projects.
She’s overwhelmed by the response from sponsors of the project, which has seen the house built from scratch at Ballina Heights.
But she’s anxious that political unrest and violence following presidential elections in Kenya will prevent her from visiting the African nation in the near future, thus forcing a delay in seeing Aussies For Orphans’ most recent project come to fruition.
Hundreds of people have died in violence linked to the December 27 Kenyan poll and aid groups have warned of a humanitarian crisis after the displacement of about 250,000 people, particularly in the west of the country and the capital’s slums.
“I’m due in Kenya next week but I’m very worried,” Janelle said.
“Thousands of people have been displaced and hundreds murdered.
“I just want to be there, but me going without a plan won’t help.
“But I am very worried for my friends in Kenya.”
However, Janelle says she will still go to Africa next week. Her plan at this stage is to go to Tanzania and monitor the Kenyan situation from there.
“I’m still going. I have a responsibility to see that the money from the auction goes to the right places,” she said.
“It’s just so sad. We don’t have to worry when we wake up whether we’ll survive the day.”
This Saturday’s auction on-site is at 10am at 20 Perkins Place, Ballina Heights. The house is open for inspection from 9am, and all offers over $400,000 will be considered (contact Michael Shay at L J Hooker Ballina on 6686 2711).
The auction marks the culmination of Aussies For Orphans’ biggest fund-raising project. “It was one of those ‘committee things’. There were 10 of us and someone said ‘let’s build a house’,” Janelle said.
Due to the size and scope of the project, Janelle originally was hesitant.
But Aussies For Orhpans’ founder Stephen Lewis approached Michael Shay at L J Hooker, and the project began.
St Francis Xavier’s Parish offered a delayed settlement, and Etosha Homes came on board as builders.
Then 65 additional sponsors offered help, and the result is a home which Janelle says is perfect for a family or an investor.
“It’s ready to walk in,” she said, adding that Channel 7’s Hot Property program will film Saturday’s auction.
The response by donors to the project has left Janelle feeling overwhelmed. “They’ve been amazing,” she said.
Janelle says the past 12 months ‘has been life-changing for me’. She has been the public face of Aussies For Orphans but she admits she is not comfortable in front of the media.
“I hate getting my photo taken and having a TV camera in front of me,” she said.
“But it’s raising the profile. If I can connect people here with what’s going on overseas, that’s a good thing.”
Janelle has a special message for any person considering buying the house at 20 Perkins Place, Ballina Heights, on Saturday: “You’ll get a beautiful house, and you’ll be providing a home for many children in developing countries.”
Janelle has been organising relief donations for the people and children affected by the political unrest in Kenya, through local Kenyan friends and contacts. If you would like to assist, phone 0447 118 513, email info@aussiesfororphans.org or visit www.aussiesfororphans.org
PICTURES: The Ballina Heights house to be auctioned (above) and (below) Aussies For Orphans volunteers Margaret Shaw, Janelle Gibson, Samantha Savage and Deanna Savage in the house.
