Award for faith in the homeless

by Kim O'Connor

Source: Wentworth Courier

Rose Bay local Jeff Gambin has been honoured on a national level by being presented with a 2000 Australian Humanitarian Award.

Selected by a panel of judges from the Australian Humanitarian Foundation Inc, Mr Gambin's award recognises his efforts in feeding Sydney's homeless every night over the past six years and finding them jobs and housing.

"Overwhelming" was his reaction to the resounding standing ovation he received at the awards night, held at the University of NSW.

"I just couldn't believe it - it was like the whole place erupted."

While he is modest about the importance of such acclaim for the voluntary work he and his wife Alina have undertaken through their Just Enough Faith foundation, Jeff was joyful about meeting the real Patch Adams, who was a guest speaker at the awards ceremony.

"This guy is an inspiration - he worked for 28 years before anyone took notice of him, when Hollywood made a movie starring Robin Williams as Patch Adams and showed his success," Jeff said.

Jeff took three of his homeless friends to the awards dinner ("We got them suited and booted - they looked great!") and he feels their contact with Patch Adams will change their lives forever.

"This has been an amazing year - from the time the Courier article came out in January, things have just been incredible.

"We have had a piece of land at Minto Heights given to us to use by the trustees of an estate, from a nun called Sister Bernadine. When she died, she stipulated in her will that the land should go to someone who would help the homeless.

"I was overjoyed to accept it because of the potential to grow our own produce."

In four months, they have transformed the land from a weedy, dry block into a productive site. They have used tractors, hoes and ploughs to prepare the soil, installed irrigation and 2000 metres of fencing and set up farm sheds."
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crop of lettuce," Jeff said. "Then we are getting ready to plant potatoes, zucchini, carrots and pumpkin. There are more than 150 trees we've planted in an orchard and also figs, olives, guavas and chilli trees.

"It's fantastic! I've got six of the homeless people living there in caravans and working on the place. You have never seen such devotion to a block of land - the care they take in cutting the grass and pruning the trees is inspiring. They have so much pride in their work, the project has given them great self-worth.

"We've also got a big wood-fired oven set up there to do some cooking - it's fantastic at turning out pizzas, tandoori chicken and bread for the homeless we feed each night in the city."

Jeff and Alina are delighted that they have created a project where homeless people are now working at feeding other homeless folk, especially when one considers the savings involved.

As it stands, the Gambins have spent $300,000 of their own funds on their work. They receive absolutely no government assistance, and they rely on the generosity of occasional donations.

"We would dearly love to have a sponsor that could help us. If there is a big business person out there with a conscience, they can talk to us on 0412 546 248. Any donations can be sent to Just Enough Faith, PO Box 135, Rose Bay NSW 2029."

It's a mammoth effort from two people: 16-hour days collecting ingredients (up to 180 kg of food a day), cooking, transporting and then serving it up to the hundreds who meet them at a handful of city locations each night.

But it's not just putting food into empty tummies that motivates this couple. As Jeff explained, "My goal this year is to take 150 people off the streets and get them jobs and housing.

"Last year we did it for 119 people and so far this year we have taken 63 off the streets. It's the long-term change we are aiming for."

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