Community Spirit

by Jason Mountney

Source: Qantas: The Australian Way Magazine, January 2004

A former Sydney Restaurateur has dedicated his life's work to the city's homeless.

A former Sydney Restaurateur has dedicated his Life's work to the City's homeless.

Around 8pm on any night of the year, a group of people gather in Cook and Phillip Park, by William Street, the gateway to Sydney's eastern suburbs. They mill about, waiting for a vehicle to arrive that, for many of them, will bring the only substantial meal that day.

The vehicle belongs to Just Enough Faith (JEF), a non-religious charity that, for more than 10 years, has been feeding Sydney's homeless and doing what it can to help them off the streets. It was all inspired by one kind offer in 1993, when JEF's founder, Jeff Gambin, was sitting on a bench in Sydney's Martin Place.

"It was a cold, windy and after 10 o'clock at night," Gambin says. "This old man came by and asked me the time. He then said, 'It gets very cold out here, why don't you sleep in that doorway.'"

Gambin, a Sydney restaurateur at the time, told the stranger that he was fine and had a home to go to, but the man thought he was simply too proud to admit he was destitute. It was the homeless man's next gesture, however, that changed Gambin's life forever.

"He put a bag down, opened it and took out this blanket - the only thing he had - and said, 'Here you are mate, it gets very cold out here'. Here was this person who had nothing, his most valuable possession was his blanket, and he was willing to pass it on."

Touched by the camaraderie of the streets, Gambin spent the next week tracking down the man. When the man introduced Gambin to other homeless people, the Indian-born restaurateur decided to sell his businesses and most of his assets and instead dedicate himself to helping Sydney's destitute.

On July 24, 1993, Gambin went out on the streets with a car boot filled with food and Just Enough Faith was born. In the 10-and-a-half years since, countless people have been fed, with more than 1100 helped off the streets and into permanent accommodation. And Gambin has never missed a night on the job.

JEF receives no government support, relying instead on Gambin's energy and an army of volunteers including Qantas Cabin Crew Team (QCCT), which has made JEF its Australian-based charity. Qantas staff from all over the airline often work alongside Gambin, serving meals to some of Sydney's least fortunate citizens. Other volunteers include a magistrate, lawyers, students, journalists and, on Wednesdays, members of the Sydney Swans AFL team.

In March last year, QCCT organised the Rice and Spice Drive, donating more than 2200kg of rice and an abundance of spices. Qnatas Inflight Services has also donated blankets, toiletries and soap.

"We average about 500 people a night," Gambin says, adding that JEF's commercial kitchen in Sydney's Rozelle produces a "minimum of 310kg of food a day". Gambin may have sold his businesses, but after 30 years in the trade, the restaurateur within refuses to die, offering the nightly group of 500 a choice of about eight dishes.

"I give them lobste, duck a l'orange, quail, prawns," he says, admitting that while he seeks bargains, he tries to give something interesting. "What we try to do is ease the pain - it's not a nice place on the streets." He provides a special meal at Christmas, a time he says life on the streets can be particularly lonely.

Gambin says he still keeps in touch with many of the people he's helped. And as for the man who offered a blanket to a stranger one night? "He was best man at my wedding," Gambin says.

Jeff Gambin received the 2004 NSW Local Hero Award and is a finalist in the national Local Hero Award to be announced as part of Australia Day Honours. Call JEF on (02) 9818 8988 or visit www.justenoughfaith.org.

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