- Construction has commenced on a tailor made house for two Gold Coast women
- The house is to be build pro bono as a result of community support
- The residences are to be called Jindi - meaning 'home'
A sod-turning ceremony kicked off construction last week on what will be a life-changing house for two Gold Coast women who have been left without a permanent home as a result of insufficient specialist disability accommodation.
Condev Constructions are responsible for construction of the $1.6 million house which will be built with tailored modifications to suit the women – Ketra Wooding and Magenta Harris.
Due to the rare illness myalgic encephalomyelitis – a form of chronic fatigue syndrome also referred to as ‘ME’ – Ms Woodling currently resides in an aged care facility. This is the only available suitable accommodation for her despite being just 36 years old.
Tracy Marais – head of Condev’s charitable branch, Condev Cares – is responsible for the project. She took the project on board after hearing about the housing crisis facing the two women. She led the sod turning ceremony last week.
The house is being built entirely pro bono.
“We have been absolutely blown away by the generosity and sheer willingness of the community to come forward and offer assistance, completely pro bono.”
Mark Burow, Condev Cares Chairman
“Through pro bono and in-kind commitments we have managed to raise $1.2 million in donated works from local trades, which is a phenomenal result for the project and a clear indication of just how many people have been moved by Ketra and Magenta’s story,” Mr Burow said.
The two-storey triplex will be appropriately called ‘Jindi’ derived from the indigenous word for ‘home’. The name was chosen by Ms Wooding as a tribute to the community this project will provide for women like herself and Ms Harris who have been left to fall through the cracks of the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme).
The construction will have unique features curated to the needs of the two women. Mr Burrow explains how the houses will manage Ms Wooding’s unique sensitivities to scents and sound.
“Ketra’s room will be double glazed and built like a room within a room to provide an exceptional sound studio-level acoustic environment,” said Mr Burow.
“We’ve also utilised tiling and inert materials throughout in response to Ketra’s sensitivity to chemical smells.”
Condev Care’s annual charity bike ride was able to raise $150,000 in funds for Jindi this year. A reunion cycle was held on the day of the sod-turning ceremony last week.
Condev Cares worked in close collaboration with the not for profit Young Care – an organisation that support young people with high care needs.
“Young Care has advised us through the entire process to ensure that Jindi contains all the required amenities in accordance with the latest SDA guidelines providing NDIS High Physical Support – which is a far more complex process than most realise,” said Mr Burow.
Young Care is in the process of finding a third resident for the triplex.
“It’s the amalgamation of months of work, and extreme generosity from trades, contractors and businesses to bring this vision to life.”
Condev would like to thank the following consultants who have pitched in to bring Jindi to life, pro bono: BDA, Urbis, McKenzie Group, Group 6, Richard Flanagan, Hinterland Air, Auscoast Fire, EMF Section J, ADG (Hydraulics) and TTM Traffic Engineering.
Jindi will be completed at end of March next year.
