
Help Susie find her forever home
Donation protected


Hi, I am Pen, and I am fundraising for my mum, Susie… Okay, she is not really my blood mum, but she is by any other measure. She took care of me when no one else wanted to!
As many of you will know, Susie Gamble is an extraordinary woman. Whether you know her in daily life or through her life as a rock and roll historian, I am sure she would have put a smile on your face. For anyone who has known her for a while, you may have also benefited from her very generous nature! She is someone who would always help anyone who asks her for help.
It is true to say that we could never have imagined that her generosity over the years would lead to where she finds herself today. Due to health reasons, earlier this year, Susie had to hang up the cleaning lady outfit and retire, sadly having to leave her little 30 year cleaning business, with loyal and long-standing clients in Mansfield for over 17 years. This was a devasting blow. Shortly after that, Susie was advised that her rental property, which she had been living in for 17 years, was experiencing a major rent hike to the tune of about 40% over two years.
Susie is now on the aged pension, and her rent will exceed the pension payment from February 2025. The housing crisis, particularly for older women, is at epidemic proportions in Victoria. Families are ending up living in cars and tents. It is not a city that is familiar to many of us.
We had some foresight that this may happen, but not so quickly…. so what to do?
We are building an old-fashioned granny flat in the backyard at a property I manage in Forest Hill. This one-bedroom unit has room for a bedroom, lounge room, kitchen, separate bathroom, and laundry areas. It is quiet, safe, and secure and in an area she is very familiar with. Most importantly, Susie can stay there until she is ready to leave. She can’t be kicked out, and the rent crisis for her will go away.
How the funds will be used
During 2023 and 2024, we have funded the (slow) granny flat build on the smell of the proverbial, but now we need to crank up the completion of it by February 2025 so she can get out of Mansfield before the next rent hike.
We have a lovely builder who is working for us at “mates rates”, but we still have to pay for his labour, and we need materials to complete the kitchen, plaster walls, tiled floors, and electrical and plumbing fit-off. We also need to help Susie make the physical move to Melbourne from Mansfield and all the costs associated with that (skips, removalist, etc!).
So we are asking for help from our wonderful friends and supporters. Susie may have helped you out or loaned you money and her time at some point in your life. If so, we would be so grateful if her generosity could be reciprocated. If she has given you nothing but her friendship and a generous ear, please consider tipping in for your friend.
Thanks for listening!
Pen x
Organizer

Penelope McEncroe
Organizer
Forest Hill, VIC