This morning hundreds of people with their usual good will, will brave the Ballarat chill (and this year even in November that is not something to be taken lightly) to go for a walk. This is no ordinary walk but rather a charity event from Linton to Ballarat called Walking Home aimed at raising money for the Salvation Army’s SalvoConnect. It seems strangely appropriate for the generous, if better-off, residents of the city to be up early feeling a touch of just what it is they are putting their efforts toward. Like Lear it is only by exposing ourselves to feel what wretches feel that we are sometimes able to make the first steps toward justice.
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In a city that does not see the extremes of poverty and desperation a larger metropolis knows, homelessness is seldom as conspicuous. That in no way obviates its urgency as an often invisible social problem. It does not necessarily manifest itself in people in doorways and under bridges. Sometimes it is a long and dismal history of couch surfing or the bleak misery of sleeping in a car. But neither of these plights lessens the desperation or the despair in lacking a secure future. The causes of homelessness are equally complex, sometimes with long histories of mental illness or substance abuse but they are certainly not always such. What SalvoConnect has highlighted is almost half of the people, many with small children, accessing their services have suffered family violence. This is not just financial misfortune but genuine fear driving people out of their homes.
But Ballarat’s goodwill could be said to be a constant regardless of cause. The soup bus, the shower bus and countless other services have harnessed that goodwill and alleviated some of the suffering. You too can help do your bit, even if it is just going for a stroll this morning along the Skipton Rail trail.
The Salvation Army’s Walking Home fundraiser is on today and will raise funds for SalvoConnect Western’s childcare centre and children’s services, including specialist counselling for children who have experienced homelessness, trauma and domestic violence.
The hardy walker can join in from Linton and do 36-kilometres or late risers can even join in at Lucas from 12.30pm and walk on into the CBD. Beyond this valuable cause, good will has its way of reaping its own reward for a community that cares.
For more information or to register visit salvationarmy.org.au/walkinghome.
