Brushing up on Safe Rooms

Published 5:00am 16 November 2023

Words by Nick Crockford

Businesses and residents are helping the Zonta Club of Redcliffe prepare three safe rooms for some of our most vulnerable people.

The rooms at Deception Bay, Mango Hill/North Lakes and Redcliffe police stations will be used to interview victims of domestic violence.

Using donations of paint, equipment, furnishings and toys, the Zonta Club of Redcliffe will help make one office at each station more welcoming.

Jenny Osborne, President of Zonta Club of Redcliffe, thanked the “wonderful businesses which have unselfishly donated to this community project”.

Jenny Osborne, President of Zonta Redcliffe, with Lani from Bunnings Rothwell which has donated paint and equipment.

Bunnings Rothwell and Dulux have donated paint and equipment for each of the safe rooms, while Costco has given $150 to buy children’s tables and chairs.

Carpet One has donated two two-seater sofas and two bookcases. Members and friends of Zonta have given children’s toys, colour-in books, pencils and blocks.

The Zonta Club of Redcliffe hopes to have the safe rooms refurbished by the end of this year.

President Jenny said Keith Morris, Snr Constable of the Vulnerable Persons Unit at Deception Bay Police Station, had approached them to help create the rooms.

Zonta Club of Redcliffe forming a guard of honour at a Dolphins QRL match.

It matched Zonta International’s ‘Say No to Domestic Violence’ campaign and the Redcliffe group’s support for the annual march and cause in Moreton Bay.

An Orange Activism Breakfast will be at The Komo, Redcliffe, on November 21 from 7-9am with Simone O’Brien the guest speaker.

16 Days of Activism (November 25 to December 10) will follow with orange cutouts of women in supporting businesses and displays at Deception Bay, North Lakes and Redcliffe Libraries.

Banners will be put up around the City of Moreton Bay and Zonta has asked Council to light buildings and fountains in orange during the campaign.

Zonta's past projects have included putting plaques on the back of every public toilet door with the words Say No to Domestic Violence and helpline numbers.

The Redcliffe branch forms a guard of honour for a Dolphins QRL rugby league match during May, the month highlighting Domestic Violence.

Zonta supporters The Refuge at Clontarf, with essentials for women who leave home without personal possessions for safety reasons, Encircle and The Breakfast Club.