SEPTEMBER 12 1988 Rita’s story
On the 12th of September, 35 years ago, Catherine House opened its doors for residents to stay. Arch Bishop Gleeson conducted an opening mass at 7:30pm. Staff at this point included Catherine House’s first leader, Sister Anne Gregory, Sister Pak Poy, Sister Margaret Tully, Michelle Saybe, Sister Maureen, and the first volunteer, Faye Mather. On that first night, the Sisters waited in anticipation. Sandwiches, cups of tea and 12 warm beds were prepared. No one came. Sister Anne was determined, she drove to the Adelaide parklands and approached a woman, inviting her to stay. This woman was hesitant at first. “Why would I leave my tree and park to sleep in a room?” she asked. Sister Anne managed to coax her with the promise of a warm drink and a feed, so she came along, bringing her shopping trolley. She slept upstairs, in a bedroom now named after her, Rita Miller’s room.
I find being in a women’s-only support service calming and settling, and I am not faced with the anxiety of being assigned a male worker or forced to settle for one. Knowing I am in a feminist environment has helped me feel safe and comfortable to openly share experiences I have never spoken about before. It’s a place where I no longer must use my masculine energy or feel like I am in survival mode. I can be my feminine self. I have been engaging with the Education and Employment Officer, Sharon. Through our work together, I have received an education grant for my White Card course, which I have completed. I enrolled in the Adult Community Education training course ‘Live Your Best Life and Plan for Your Future’, which has helped me regain my confidence and self-esteem. The trauma-informed teaching practice Sharon uses is collaborative and has assisted me in regaining a sense of personal power and autonomy by being free to choose what I engage in and how I do this. We learn about the right to say ‘no’ in a safe setting so we can become comfortable applying this and other new empowering language in our daily lives. I am now excited about what the future holds. I look forward to living independently and being reunited with my children in a place I can call home. I have learned women are capable of doing many extraordinary things for ourselves within our lives. Being in a safe, comfortable and supported environment enhances that strength, giving room for doors to open and opportunities to emerge in which we feel confident to say yes.
When Sister Anne went to greet her in the morning, she was gone. After that night, word of mouth travelled, and before long, each bed was full. Several months after opening, Rita Miller returned to Catherine House. When Sister Anne asked why she had left so suddenly, Rita told her of the shame she felt in asking for help, feeling undeserving. For the past 35 years, Catherine House has supported thousands of women, many of whom, like Rita, have felt shame or hesitance in receiving help. Thank you for your role in helping women know they are deserving of support, deserving of safety, regardless of where they have been. That they should be heard, believed and respected. Thank you for helping end women’s homelessness.
CATHERINE HOUSE CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER | 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | PAGE 05
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