Desperate HELP needed for Local Homeless Family!

Hi, my name is Tamika Bannister (I own the Spotted Quoll Studio in Tasmania). I am using my platform within the local Tasmanian community to help a family that has slipped through the cracks of our so-called civilised society; this is a story hard to believe, but true, nevertheless.

 

My Father, Bert Bannister, recently went to a snake call out (he is a local snake relocator) to a family living at Weetah, near Deloraine, Tas; he drove up what he describes as a goat track 20mins into the bush to find a family of 3, father Edward and two beautiful boys Shamus 12 and Jasper 14 and their red dog living in a tent and a caravan with no running water, power or basic amenities. Dad describes it as 3rd world living conditions but in Australia, the snakes come into the van attracted to the rats, the rats from the bush come looking for the food in the van.

The children now will not sleep in the van as they are so terrified of the snakes they have taken to sleeping in a tent. This family have existed like this for, four long hard cold Tasmanian winters, they have no vehicle, so the children are not able to attend school and before you think what sort of a father allows this? Edward is dying of lung cancer that has now spread, Edward is battling cancer, barely able to walk in the most horrendous conditions you could imagine.

 

Shamus and Jasper walk every two days down the goat track out to the road where they call for transport ($45 return) to buy food as their tiny van fridge can’t hold much and then walk the bags back up the goat track. Remember I said they have no running water? They carry 10 liter buckets across from an old shed that collects rainwater to wash in.

I meet Edward and the boys today and they said they just need a clean safe home...they are still waiting for public housing as they aren’t considered urgent!!!! WTF

 

Edward cried when we said this isn’t OK and we are here to help, our government may not consider a family living like this as an urgent situation but we sure as hell do and will not stand by and watch on the sidelines. How can we as a so-called civilised community think any of this this is, OK?

 

I am asking for your help, I am asking for you to give big or small, I am asking you to share this with your circle of friends that all sleep tonight in comfortable beds and children have the privilege of going to school, I am asking you to stand up and say this is not acceptable.

 

My goal is to raise enough for them to buy a suitable caravan (a home) with essential warm bedding and clothes for a family of three so they will be able to go to the local caravan park which has power, hot showers, washing and cooking facilities, close to the supermarket and healthcare for Edward and that Shamus and Jasper can be close enough to be able to attend school again. These are things we all take for granted.

 

PLEASE HELP ME HELP THEM!