Queensland Governor visits Thread Together Clothing Hub
The Queensland Governor, Her Excellency the Honorable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM visited the Thread Together clothing hub at Indooroopilly today, Monday 20th February, coinciding with the second anniversary of the unique clothing service in Queensland.
The partnership between national not-for-profit Thread Together, Anglicare Southern Queensland and St Andrew’s Anglican Parish redirects brand new clothing from landfill to people in need.
The Rev’d Sue Grimmett with Thread Together CEO Anthony Chesler, Her Excellency The Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM and Anglicare Southern Queensland’s Chief Executive Officer Sue Cooke with the Thread Together mobile wardrobe van on Monday 20 February, 2023. Photo: Emma Goodman
Anglicare Southern Queensland Chief Executive Officer (CEO) , Mrs Sue Cooke, said that Thread Together has provided more than 5,500 vulnerable Queenslanders with new clothing since its establishment in 2021.
“The service initially commenced in Queensland in 2021 with a ‘mobile wardrobe’ sponsored by Bendon Lingerie. The van delivers clothing to those in need through Anglicare and other service providers,” Mrs Cooke said.
“Last year we were thrilled that The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO, former Governor of Queensland and former Governor-General of Australia, was able to join us to open our permanent clothing hub in Indooroopilly, to complement the van service.”
“We’re now honoured to host Her Excellency The Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM at the clothing hub to meet with our wonderful volunteers, workers and customers.”
Nationally, Thread Together and its community partners have saved more than 2,200 tonnes of new clothing from landfill over the past 10 years. Last year alone, as a result of the Queensland and NSW floods, the initiative helped hundreds of people and saved approximately 600 tonnes of clothing from landfill.
Thread Together CEO Anthony Chesler said that the service is a global-first, dedicated to taking excess new clothing from manufacturers and designers and redistributing it to those in need.
“Thread Together is operational in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Hobart. In addition to hubs and mobile services, Thread Together has announced the ‘wardrobe project’, a national program designed to assist women and children fleeing domestic violence situations, with the installation of 100 wardrobes into women’s shelters across the nation, with five so far located in Queensland,” Mr Chesler said.
“The Thread Together Wardrobe and Capsule Service will allow women and children to access clean, new clothing including underwear, socks, sleepwear, and tracksuits, when they arrive at a shelter following a domestic violence situation.”
Thread Together will celebrate two years of operation in Queensland with a morning tea on Monday 20th February.
For more information on Thread Together, please visit https://anglicaresq.org.au/about-us/advocacy/thread-together/
