Follow US
PROGRESS
The Tiny Homes Project gratefully acknowledges everyone who contributed to this build. It would not have been possible without your support.
So much hard work has gone into this beautiful project, it continues today. Our goal is the official opening this year.
We couldn’t have done this without our many volunteers too who we thank so sincerely.
2022
Sandy Clark was approached by Fiona Donnellan in 2022 to support the Whitsunday Housing Co Ltd not-for-profit and see how it might be possible to address housing for homelessness in the Whitsundays for women 55 and over, which was a concern for COO Joanne Moynihan. She was aware of the homeless statistics Australia wide with women in this age group and aware of the challenges her charity was facing. Joanne wanted to meet Sandy and see how her charity might better support these women. Fiona was aware of the work Sandy had done raising the money to build a small childbirth hospitable in a remote village in Zambia for disadvantaged mothers.
The meeting got off to a good start and before long the first fundraising event New York, New York Charity Cocktail Party was up and running. Sandy, an event organiser and journalist, was supported by Fiona Donnellan. Fiona volunteered for events as well as sponsorships and prizes. Many successful events. And a great team in Sandy and Fiona.
A sponsorship team of volunteers was then formed. Paula Wronksi worked with Sandy writing many successful grant applications.
In addition a team of volunteers came on board to door knock for sponsor funds, auction prizes, and raffle prizes. Team members included Sue Willmott, Shirley Lethlean, Diahann Logan, Shirley Telford, Fiona Donnellan, Anita Edgar, Amy Isaac, Zena Glendening, Marg Murphy, Sharon Ashman, Joy Dunand, Melissa Szalai, Joanne Moynihan. Additional volunteers assisted at events.
2023
Sandy was sourcing a number of existing local events which included a sponsorship aspect.
The largest of these was the Mayor’s Ball in 2023 and the Big 4 Care annual event, and Fiona set up the successful Crab Racing Australia Day annual charity event with KC’s as well as the successful fundraising links with the Airlie Beach Festival of Music.
Another ongoing sponsorship was set up by Sandy working with Paula Wronksi - the Play for Purpose online raffle which has also been a great ongoing financial success and continues on.
Whilst running our major fundraising events (managed by Sandy Clark and Fiona Donnellan) and our grant applications (written by Sandy Clark and Paula Wronski, our team of passionate brave volunteers went door knocking and cold calling to so many businesses in the Whitsundays asking for various levels of sponsorships - major, platinum, gold, silver and bronze - and prizes for our many auctions.
Our Tiny Homes Project Facebook page recognised our prize donors and we thank them very much. Our great team of volunteers collectively raised the fabulous figure of $42,500 during this particular drive. It was such a great effort put in by the volunteers - and as our logo says - teamwork makes it happen
Note our block of land was thankfully donated by Whitsunday Regional Council (WRC) after we did a standup pitch to the full membership of the Council, including the Mayor and CEO, and were selected.
2024
In 2024 there was so much paperwork. We went through the process of arranging for the signing of the land over from WRC to the Whitsunday Housing Co. Limited.
And then it was getting the building approval from the Council. From 2024 to 2025 the slow process of planning for the build, design changes with the voluntary help of Hauswerk designers, engineer reports, and sign off of so many building compliance matters with Whitsunday Regional Council.
2025
In August 2025 Sandy Clark set up meetings with the major building suppliers in the region over a 10 day period, to see what products they could offer us complimentary and/or heavily discounted.
This was to be our final step to work within our budgets and to keep our costs as low as possible so that our donations would spread as far as possible for this, worthy cause. This was the last phase of our efforts to engender true community involvement and this time from the leading suppliers to the regional building industry.
The meetings were attended by our builders Abell Builders, and Joanne, COO of our charity Whitsunday Housing Co Limited (WHCL) and Sandy Clark, and they were most fruitful.
Sincere thanks to the best building supply companies in the Whitsundays who have offered us complimentary and/or highly discounted products. Their logos are acknowledged on our sponsors page in the Building suppliers section.
2025
On 17th November Stratco at Proserpine came in to build the steel high quality security fencing around our block at 34 Gardenia Street, Proserpine.
This was in readiness for the build and we also commenced preparation of the site for the build to commence in 2026.
Our builder Abell Builders and engineer Reece Milburn continued working with WRC and WHCL charity, to get all the sign-offs and payments to WRC completed before the build.
2026
On 2 May we had some movement with heavy machinery on the site and preparation of the ground, and the stumps went in soon after.
Thanks to Pilchers Cement for their initial efforts and additionally for their generous sponsorship of all of our concrete. Around May 17 our sub-flooring went in, then trusses, thanks to Bowen Trusses special pricing, and we are off to a good start.
Our builders continued work for the month of May with Porters, Replas for our Bollards, Stratco Proserpine for our steel facials battens and roofing iron. Our ramps and decks got off to a good start too. Sponsorship from CSR - Bradford for our roof insulation
