Welcome from the Public Housing Residents’ Network

By Cory Memery 

Hi readers, this column is from the view of a long-term public housing resident.

I will bring my opinion to inner-city residents on any matters that are current and important. Sometimes my opinion might be at odds with other people’s opinions. It will be a point of view that is mine and independent.

I have lived in Carlton since 2004, being a resident of public housing at the Carlton high-rise towers estate on Lygon St. I have been a volunteer at the Church of all Nations (CAN) for many years, in particular, emergency relief. I have found this very rewarding and very enjoyable. I encourage everyone, if possible to do some volunteering, and after the year we have been through, it’s time to get out and help.

I was also awarded the “Community Champion 2020” for the City of Melbourne at the Melburnian of the Year awards ceremony, which was presented to me by the honourable Lord Mayor Sally Capp. It was very humbling to receive.

I, with others, established the Public Housing Residents’ Network (PHRN) in early 2020 which would bring residents of all public housing high-rise estates together to work as one group to help all the high-rise residents as a whole.

Then when COVID-19 took hold, and after the lockdowns of the eight towers in North Melbourne and Flemington, there was panic across all of the estates in Melbourne. Residents of our estate were very worried and concerned that we would be imprisoned also. After discussions with my brothers, daughter and others from various estates, we decided that we needed to be pro-active instead of re-active to protect our community.

So, a media blitz began, starting with radio on 3AW that was soon followed by a television interview and media print, demanding that mobile testing units be present at our estate and all high-rise estates across Melbourne and beyond. We also asked to have masks supplied to residents, sanitiser on each floor and improved cleaning. After pressure was put on our political leaders by the community, they had no option other than to prioritise bringing mobile testing units to our towers and every other high-rise estate. Public pressure won.

In early July when testing began at the estate, I organised Zoom meetings with residents, inviting various agencies, housing, police, local political representatives. As people were isolated I found this to have a positive outcome as residents could ask the various agencies anything they wanted. They had nowhere to run. They also provided information on what people could do to help get through isolation. This had an impact on residents as they no longer felt alone. The community came together and united as one for a common cause. I am so proud of my community, everyone deserved an award.

The statement “we are all in this together” was certainly the case at the estate, and I believe that when our time comes to be vaccinated, residents will do the right thing and get the jab. I say to the anti-vaxxers out there, stop being selfish and make your first thought about someone else’s health and wellbeing, rather than yourself.

Thanks for reading my first column, and I look forward to hearing feedback from fellow Melburnians about any issues you would like to discuss in the Inner City News •