Winter can be long and sometimes harsh. There are times when I forget what summer feels like, when for days the cold winds blow, and a vast range of viruses make their rounds. Then little by little, the sun lingers, the days stretch out, buds form on the naked, dormant branches and the birds begin to sing again. With the arrival of spring and summer, we all collectively sigh with relief as we embrace a fresh sense of warmth and hope. Forgetting the woes of winter we lift our arms wide to the sun.

We recently had the privilege of attending a wedding of two people who had merged their lives and families after previous years of pain and turmoil in their lives independently. The turning point for both was discovered in the love of family, connection to a community that believed in them, and some hard choices to make positive changes in their lives. The long and hard winter of their lives is emerging into spring for themselves and their children. The sun is so evidently shining upon them. The bonus is, that we all get to collectively sigh with relief and cheer them on.

If the days are short and cold right now, and it feels like winter has settled around you, like it does for many of us, hold tight. Find a safe community that will see the beauty in you, even on the days when you cannot see it for yourself. Be bold and ask for help, and with all you’ve got look for connection to God who will lift you out of darkness into His light as He fulfils His promise to make all things beautiful.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human

heart.” Ecc 3:11a

Much love,

Meg and Pete

When Jay* first came to Salt’s Safe Shelter, he was carrying the heavy weight of grief, trauma, and addiction. He had lost loved ones in tragic circumstances, was estranged from family, and felt completely alone.

With the support of Salt, Jay was placed in temporary accommodation and gently connected into programs at the Wellness Farm. There, surrounded by nature and a supportive community, he began to take steps toward healing. Over the past two months Jay has:

• Attended wellness days at the farm and joined a weekly recovery group
• Worked with a psychologist to process his trauma
• Engaged in financial counselling to regain control of his finances
• Met regularly with a mentor, showing incredible growth and honesty

Last week Jay proudly shared that he has been drug-free for five weeks; the healthiest and most hopeful he has felt in years.

Now, Jay has moved into Salt’s new AOD Recovery House, a 12-month residential program designed to provide deeper support and help participants achieve lasting change.

Jay’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when people are given the right support and community. At Salt, we see every day that healing can begin with just one step.

The Salt Care team

*Name changed to protect privacy

The Shoalhaven Disability Expo, held at the Shoalhaven Indoor Sports Centre, Bomaderry, welcomed more than 500 attendees and received excellent feedback—particularly regarding the wide range of services showcased to the community.

Salt Care NDIS had a fantastic day, with the Lego giveaway proving to be a huge success and helping to foster strong community connections.

The Expo continues to grow and improve each year.

Congratulations to the Shoalhaven Disability Expo Committee on another outstanding event.

Belinda

Hi, it’s Anita Gibson here from Shoalhaven Women’s Health Centre. I’m pleased to be working in partnership with Salt Care to provide financial counselling outreach for women every second Wednesday in Bomaderry. 

I understand that managing money can be stressful, especially when faced with unexpected bills, soaring energy costs, or persistent calls from debt collectors. 

My role is to provide a safe and supportive space where women can discuss their financial concerns and explore practical solutions. 

I can assist with budgeting, debt management, accessing hardship supports, addressing fines and planning for long-term financial stability as well as any other financial matters you may need support with. 

All sessions are free and confidential. If you would like to book an appointment, please call Shoalhaven Women’s Health on 02 4421 0730 or email me at [email protected] 

Anita

Our beautiful bunches of 5 waratahs for $35 are ready for pre-order!

To order, simply submit an online order by 5pm each Tuesday using the QR code, or click on the button below.

 Pick up at: Salt Base – 5–19 Birriley St, Bomaderry

 Upcoming Dates: Wed 1 Oct, 8 Oct, 15 Oct

 Time: 11am–3pm

Fresh from Salt Wellness Farm, these stunning blooms are perfect for gifting or brightening your own home.

Meg

ORDER NOW

We’re thrilled to share the latest progress from our Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Wellness Program, now in its eleventh week.

The journey so far has been deeply inspiring, with participants embracing growth, healing, and connection in a safe and supportive environment. Our community continues to strengthen, with 26 intakes completed and a growing number of individuals engaging in meaningful recovery work.

The Wednesday farm group has reached full capacity with ten regular participants, creating a vibrant space for therapeutic connection and shared purpose. We’ve also launched a new Friday recovery group, which welcomed six attendees at its first session and is already showing promise as another valuable support space.

One of the most exciting developments is the AOD House pilot, which is now underway and will provide housing for two participants. This initiative offers tailored case management, financial counselling, and psychological support, helping to build a stable foundation for long-term recovery. In our group sessions, we continue to explore themes that matter: relapse prevention strategies, life skills development, and the power of vulnerability and emotional awareness. The energy and engagement from our participants has been incredible, and as we expand our offerings and trial new initiatives, we remain committed to creating spaces where healing and growth can truly flourish.

Thank you to everyone who’s been part of this journey, your support makes all the difference.

Cameron Cameron

We’re thrilled to share that Phil Presgrave and the amazing team at Rotary have brought new life to our gardens!

With fresh vegetables now planted, our catering team will be able to prepare home-cooked meals using ingredients grown right here on-site. Even better, Phil and the Rotary Club will be visiting weekly to help maintain the gardens — we’re so happy to have them back on board and deeply grateful for their continued support.

The Shelter has recently been operating at full capacity, a clear reminder of how vital our work is. Providing a safe, warm, and welcoming space for the most vulnerable in our community wouldn’t be possible without our incredible volunteers, who give up their time to keep the Shelter open — thank you for all that you do.

We are always looking for new volunteers, so if you’d like to play a part in keeping the Shelter open and helping keep people off the streets, please get in touch with us — we’d love to hear from you.

From all of us at Safe Shelter — thank you for being part of the difference.

Daniel