Manager's Report

by Phinn Borg

(The Gender Centre advise that this article may not be current and as such certain content, including but not limited to persons, contact details and dates may not apply. Where legal authority or medical related matters are cited, responsibility lies with the reader to obtain the most current relevant legal authority and/or medical publication.)

The Gender Centre would like to thank our many supporters for the year that has passed.

In 2007 the Gender Centre built a strong partnership with Marrickville Council and I look forward to working with all at the Council in the coming year. In 2007 the Council gave the Gender Centre a grant for the refurbishment for one of our refuge houses which was in desperate need. The Gender Centre bought new bedding, mattresses, tables, chairs, lounges, pots and pans etc. The furniture in this house was almost twenty years old and second-hand Without help from the Council this would not have been possible.

The Street-smart project and The Aurora Group also provided a grant for the refurbishment of a second refuge house, leaving us one more house to refurbish.

The Gender Centre would also like to thank the City of Sydney Council for supplying a Self-Defence instructor from "Fight Like A Girl Self-Defence School". The instructor, Kevin Marshal, was brilliant. There were two sessions, both held at the Gender Centre in November and December for our clients. The feedback that I have received has been enthusiastic. Eight clients attended and really enjoyed the classes. We hope we will be able to provide more classes in the coming year.

We would also like to thank Oz Harvest for all the support that they have given over the year in supplying food for our Drop-in clients, all the barbecues held at the Gender Centre, food for our community clients and for our outreach clients.

And I would like to thank the Women's Housing Company for supplying us with two additional exit properties in 2007. The Gender Centre now has a total of six exit flats, which would not have been possible without the support of Bobby T and Sybille.

I look forward in working more closely with all the team at the Women's Housing Company in 2008

I would personally like to thank all the staff at the Gender Centre for all their hard work and commitment throughout the year and for their support in pushing the service forward and for their patience in the move from Morgan Street to Bent Street.

I would like to wish you all a very Merry Xmas and a happy and safe New Year.

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