A safe place is often hard for women in danger to find.
The Women’s Cottage in Richmond has provided such a space for 31 years.
‘‘We offer support for women in the Hawkesbury and surrounding areas, such as Penrith and the Blue Mountains,’’ the cottage’s manager, Sharon Payne, said.
‘‘That includes drop-in support and support for women on the phone.’’
Lou, who only wanted to use her first name, said the Women’s Cottage had turned her life around.
She lives in the Hawkesbury and now operates her own business.
‘‘Before I came to the cottage I couldn’t leave my house; I was bed-ridden, withdrawn and isolated,’’ Lou said.
She had much trauma to resolve.
As a girl she was assaulted by a gang of young men who bashed her and left her for dead.
‘‘Years later I had this partner who regularly assaulted me,’’ Lou said.
‘‘After I left him he came into my work and tried to shoot me.’’
She said earlier attempts at psychological therapy had failed.
‘‘Counsellors would take me back into the trauma and I’d feel it all over again,’’ Lou said.
‘‘But at the Women’s Cottage, counsellors allowed me to go where I needed to go.’’
Ms Payne said exploring past trauma was not always beneficial.
‘‘Women don’t have to tell their story,’’ she said. ‘‘We work with their strengths; Lou is an incredibly strong woman.’’
Ms Payne said the Women’s Cottage also helps adult survivors of child abuse and recently obtained funding from the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse.
‘‘A lot of our services are also more general; helping women in domestic violence and assisting them with applications to government departments,’’ she said.
‘‘We do a little of bit of outreach, to places such as Glossodia and the Blue Mountains.’’
The Women’s Cottage also has a meditation group, social groups, even a choir, which Lou joined.
‘‘Singing with other women was a great way to make me feel safe,’’ she said
Ms Payne said she hoped other women in need in the Hawkesbury would contact the cottage, but also said it needed more resources.
‘‘It would be good if we could have more funding, because we sometimes have to ask women to wait for some services,’’ she said.
But Ms Payne said the Women’s Cottage would continue supporting women and invited people to attend a fundraiser on May 2.
The Women’s Cottage is at 22 Bosworth Street, Richmond. Details: 45784190.
