The Northern Rivers Times Edition 120.pdf

NEW HOME FOR MARTIKA

By SAMANTHA ELLEY

Martika Dawson-Esler is very excited that soon she will be moving into her new home. The 3-bedroom house

she is moving into is located in Ballina and is a share home being built by specialist disability housing provider, Casa Capace. “My bedroom will be purple,” laughed Martika. When asked if she would be having lots of family and friends around to visit, she cheekily replied, “Nup!” then giggled when mum Alyson reacted. “We have been

collecting items for her bedroom for when she is ready to move,” Alyson said. It has been a long two and a half year wait as the project to build the new home started just

Martika Dawson-Esler in her new home - standing front right in red t-shirt

before Covid. Now the house is enclosed, and the inside is gyprocked, plastered and ready for painting, with a new floor recently laid. “We had challenges with Covid and then the floods,” said Casa Capace CEO Michael Fuller. “We had started with a Queensland builder, the borders closed, and then that company went bust. “We’ve also been

dealing with a tradie shortage.” Despite all these challenges, the house is taking shape with a number of features specific to the residents like Martika.

“There are no stairs in the house, it has wider doors and hallways,” said Mr Fuller. “The benchtops will be adjustable, and the house is wired up with assisted technology such as automatic blinds and lights.” Mr Fuller said there will also be extra structural supports for hoists to be attached to the ceiling for residents who are less mobile. “We are working with

(disability services andsupport organisation)Northcott to find qualitytenants for the homes,”said Mr Fuller.“It is about creatinga home rather than an

institution. “There is also room for a carer when needed.” Northcott General Manager Alita Carpenter said it was about providing purpose-built homes that were safe and affordable for vulnerable members of the community. A further one-bedroom home is also being built on the same block.

MELISSA DOYLE AT GOONELLABAH LIBRARY

By SAMANTHA ELLEY

She is one of television’s best loved personalities and now Melissa Doyle is coming to Goonellabah Library, in conversation with Kate Coxall. She will be talking about her new book 15 Seconds of Brave, where she shares the stories and wisdom of some of the most resilient people she has ever met. Melissa writes about how these brave men and women show how hope can prevail and we can all, as one little boy put it, find our ‘fifteen seconds of brave’. “Our communities are busy rebuilding, people are still coping with the aftermath of recent floods and 15 Seconds of Brave is

a very timely book,” Acting Lismore Area Librarian, Michael Lewis said. “Melissa Doyle’s own resilience and the stories in the book will no doubt help and inspire.” The book will be released two days before Melissa comes to Goonellabah and the interested readers will be able to reserve it now on the library catalogue. Copies of the book will also be available for purchase thanks to The Book Warehouse in Lismore. Melissa appears at Goonellabah Library on Thursday November 3, 5.30pm Book now on 02 6625 1235 or email goonellabah@rtrl.nsw. gov.au. You can also book online at https:// events.humanitix.com/ melissa-doyle.