The Shine Project

Pitter S¹*

1. Noosa Shire Council, Tewantin, Queensland, Australia

This story is about how the Noosa Community in June 2005, built 3 houses in 3 days at Noosa Heads, for women and children who need to leave their homes because of violence. Over 200 volunteers worked for two weekends to build and landscape the homes. Council allocated the land, and all materials were donated by the Noosa community and businesses. Food and drinks for the three days was also donated and catered for by the community.

The houses are also furnished down to electric clothes dryers, washing machines, glasses, crockery, bedspreads, toys and art work, dried flower arrangements- all donated The work went without a hitch and many friendships were formed whilst working on the site.

The feeling of 200 workers of all ages, dressed in SHINE tee shirts working together is magic. Bob Abbot, the Mayor of Noosa, pushing a wheelbarrow as he worked alongside his constituents was also magic. We are proud of him. We are also proud of what this community can achieve, and how they can work together to help others.

This is truly a story of community engagement- a community engaged in a mission to help others. The work was videoed and a series of documentaries is being created by a professional television camera person who also donated their time and skills. The Project that made this happen is called the SHINE Project, and this is one of a range of activities arising from the Project. The SHINE project is a community partnership facilitated by Noosa Council.