By Rosie Drew
Southern Highlands Express
Dirty Jane Bowral Founder Jane Crowley endured a 2-degree Canberra night as part of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout on 18 June.
Ms Crowley joined more than 160 CEOs across the ACT to raise over $1 million and awareness for the more than 116,000 people who experience homelessness in Australia.
The Dirty Janes Fyshwick team consisted of eight CEOs, including Ms Crowley, and together more than $100,000 was raised to help those at risk of or those experiencing homelessness.
Ms Crowley raised more than $5000 – enough to feed 102 families for a day.
Ms Crowley met Vinnies Patrol volunteers who distribute food, bedding, coats, and beanies to rough sleepers throughout Canberra. She also spoke with a former homeless man who turned his life around, who shared his story with Ms Crowley.
She said she would never again look at a rough sleeper, couch surfer or someone experiencing homelessness in the same light.
“Whether it is childhood trauma, experienced over years or a sudden and unwelcome event that causes life and mental health to spiral out of control, homelessness doesn’t necessarily discriminate,” she said.
Ms Crowley, who is a candidate in the upcoming Wingecarribee Shire Council elections, said she has been told that she is not “tough enough” to carry out the job.
“I don’t think we need tough, hardened people to do the job of leading our community,” she said.
“I believe we need people who have empathy, who can see the “invisible” people within our society and who can make hard decisions when the time comes.”
Across Australia, more than 1600 CEOs took part in the 2021 Vinnies CEO Sleepout, raising more than $8 million towards countering homelessness in Australia. The funds will be used to move people into temporary accommodation, provide emergency and crisis accommodation, and keep the power on in homes that risk having electricity cut.
To support Ms Crowley’s fundraiser visit ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/janecrowley/Canberra.
The article in the Southern Highlands Express.