For two weeks last spring, a secure car park station in Brisbane’s CBD came alive after nightfall. Usually dark, silent and vacant, the car park was a hub of activity with a flurry of volunteers setting up air mattresses with fresh sheets and new pillows.
Onsite was a doctor, a nurse, a dentist, a social worker, a team of hairdressers, chaplains and people handing out clothes, food and drinks. Most importantly, 41 of the city’s homeless were there to sleep, knowing that they were safe, warm and had toilets and showers close at hand.
Norm McGillivray watched with joy as the pilot of his new charity, Beddown, came to life. For the father of three and grandfather of six, it was the fulfilment of a lifelong dream to help others,…
