Early this year I asked Jeff Fiedler (Tenancy Advice Worker) at Housing for the Aged Action Group for assistance with a tenancy problem, where sadly another small independent living unit cluster was taken over by a large welfare organisation.
We were notified of a substantial rent increase that was given without regard for the proper time limit required by law (90 days) as set out in the Renters Rights booklet produced by Consumer Affairs Victoria.
Being a member of HAAG for many years and going to many meetings listening to different speakers, I had the advantage of knowing where I could get help from professional staff. They were able to negotiate and set the record straight.
There were many
other changes associated with the changeover to the new managers that
I felt were not in accordance with a caring welfare organisation.
So I decided I wanted to make a change for myself to ensure I had ongoing
security into the future.
Just when, and
where to, were my next questions.
But what was the answer?
I had several offers
of help but was reluctant to accept.
I felt I could die of a heart attack from worry.
Luck was with me
again as I had a fantastic opportunity to move to a little home in the
country.
Having been a 'bushie' for most of my life this seemed like a good solution.
My words can't express my heartfelt thanks to all who made the shift possible.
Jeff understood the position I was in and the reason for my relocation.
Jeff, thanks for being such a caring person, you left no stone unturned
for me to worry about.
To me it was like going home.
Friends I have
had for many years welcomed me back and were there the next day to help
me unpack.
One organised all the services I need, some gave me shrubs and another
a climbing rose to replace an overgrown one at the front of the house.
Now its not a house but a home.
I enjoy the grass under my feet and to hear the birds in the tress and
the cows and the sheep.
Yes, I'm a bushie for sure.
If you are not
a member of HAAG, phone for a membership form and ask what they can do
for you on housing and aged care issues.
If need be you can be given the contact of agencies in your local area.
Finally I would like to recommend Stringers Removals in Geelong.
I
would like to wish the staff, committee and members a happy new year.
My thanks to all.
One of the many special members at Housing for the Aged Action Group is Mrs. Xia, an elderly Chinese woman who has been involved with our organisation for the last three years.
Mrs. Xia first
contacted HAAG in 1998 as she was concerned that the Office of Housing
were planning to remove the communal laundry on her housing estate in
Richmond where there are approximately 40 flats.
Even though Mrs. Xia was the only Chinese speaking tenant on the estate
and she could speak little English, she, along with a few other tenants,
were instrumental in bringing tenants together to run a public campaign
to save the laundries.
The tenants were ultimately successful after appearing in the local press,
visiting politicians and even threatened to visit the Minister for Housing
en masse.
In light of the
fact that many older people are afraid to take steps to fight for their
rights due to fear of eviction, we were curious to find out why Mrs. Xia
was so strong in her actions to do whatever was needed to have justice
done in this case.
So we visited her recently to ask her a little bit about her life.
Mrs. Xia came to
Australia from Shanghai, China eight years ago to be close to her son
who had emigrated to our shores some years before.
She had lived a hard life.
She grew up during a time in China in the 1930's when Japan invaded her
country with the aim of making the rest of Asia the workhorse for Japanese
domination.
She told us how she started work at eleven years of age and her job was
to carry a 24 kilogram bag of rice 25 kilometres every day to sell to
foreign residents who lived in Shanghai's International Quarter occupied
by French, German, British and American forces.
Mrs. Xia saw many atrocities of war during that time. Through her life
she has worked to improve the living conditions of her family and community.
She is glad to
be an Australian citizen and appreciates that her adopted home is a peaceful
place where she believes people show compassion for the elderly.
Mrs. Xia supports the work of HAAG because we also work for social justice,
something she continues to believe in strongly.
Mrs. Xia, now in her seventies, remains very active and teaches a form
of Tai Chi martial arts to residents in the northern suburbs.
She says that Tai Chi enables people to learn grace and elegance in movement
as well as improving a person's physical health.
We
are proud that she is a member of HAAG!
