Lou’s Place welcomes our new patron

Lou’s Place welcomes The Governor of NSW, her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AO, QC, as our new Patron. The Governor has had an extraordinary career, grounded in her commitment to human rights, social justice and service to the people of NSW. There is no one who better personifies our values or mission. 

The Governor has always made an effort to better understand the issues facing women experiencing homelessness, addiction and mental health challenges in our community. The Governor visited Lou’s Place soon after her appointment. She toured the service and sat with a group of Lou’s clients, asking them about their lives, and what had brought them to Lou’s. She was interested in their stories and what services and programmes Lou’s clients had found most helpful.

 Like all of us, the Governor has had to pivot and re-imagine how she navigates her appointment. Recently, she invited Nicole Yade, general manager, and Alexa Haslingden, the Chair of The Marmalade Foundation, to a Zoom Catch up. She asked by name about each woman she had met at Lou’s, and what we were seeing at the coal face during the pandemic.  With this kind of empathy and intellectual curiosity, we know our new patron will make a difference during her appointment. We are so grateful to be included in her patronages.