From South Sydney Herald reporter Jonathan Bogais

KINGS CROSS: “Engage, build and move – we apply this philosophy in all our programs.” This statement by the Reverend Graham Long at a presentation of the Wayside Chapel re-development on Tuesday October 18 tells its story. Mr Long said: “We don’t do free food. Our philosophy is to give dignity. If you’ve got a dollar, you can decide what to have. There’s a lot more dignity in that than queuing to get a pie or whatever is there.”

Engaging is something the Wayside Chapel has made a reputation of doing well since the Reverend Ted Noffs started it in 1964. It has grown to become a leading community support organisation whose contribution to people in need has been recognised by State and Federal governments, the corporate sector and many members of the public. Now the Wayside Chapel is going through a major re-development to better service the community.

According to Mr Long, this was long overdue. “We started with a little two-storey building right where we’re standing now. Then, the old man next door who owned a seven-unit block died and left it to Ted in his will. So we expanded. In our history, there’s never been money around to maintain buildings and back in those days the risks we took were incredible.”

From the day he arrived Mr Long knew there was a building problem and something had to be done about it. As the programs expanded, the constraints with building maintenance and safety became even more apparent. Raising funds to re-develop the entire site was the only way forward.

The building is now debt free and the plan is to remain debt free by the end of the renovations expected to be completed by early 2012. The Wayside Chapel received $2 million from the State Government, $3 million from the Federal Government and raised another $3 million from various sources not involving the public. Mr Long said that the opp-shop next door – which is currently raising $300,000 a year – will be the best in the country.

The workforce consists now of 35 full-time staff with an additional network of supporters bringing over 200 volunteer-shifts a week.Manager for engagement programs, Dean de Haas, told the SSH that the new building shows that the Wayside Chapel cares about the community by trying to address people’s needs. He said: “The old building had only one shower located at the back of the block, which was a source of problems for the people wanting to use it, and a concern for the staff. Now we have all facilities needed. We have sunlight bringing energy and making people feel more positive.”

Other workers agree. Administration manager, Natalie Smith, said: “People working here are happy with the change. Being able to focus on the services, rather than on fixing things that would break, makes working so much better.”

Local business owner Margaret Butler told the audience: “The best thing about Wayside is that it brings a heart and soul to the community. People who don’t necessarily understand what Wayside does still have a good feeling about it.”

Mr Long said: “We want to be a good neighbour. We want to be a place that engages with the community – the wealthy as much as the poor. We want to tell the poor people: we wouldn’t be here without the wealthy people; and tell the wealthy people: this is your brother, this is your sister, and we belong to one another.”

The new space is purpose-built. The rooftop has a garden where people with long-term mental health issues learn how to grow their own herbs and vegies. The third floor is equipped with a teaching kitchen where people learn how to cook – and the food is consumed at the coffee shop on the ground floor.

When NSW Governor, Professor Marie Bashir, visited the new building, she said: “Wayside is the jewel in the crown of Sydney.” Ms Bashir had said before that a city ought to be judged by the way it treats its poorest citizen.

Source: South Sydney Herald November Edition

For more photos of the redevelopments visit the Wayside Chapel Website.