Melbourne Abuse Survivor Channels Pension Into Homeless Charity Work
At 67 years old, Lena Tupua regularly dips into her aged pension to fund her homeless charity work across Melbourne, providing safety, hope and dignity to those sleeping on the city's streets. The abuse survivor has been nominated for a prestigious Bunnings Warehouse Community Legends award for establishing the Hands Hearts Hope charity, demonstrating extraordinary compassion born from personal hardship.
From Personal Trauma to Community Service
Lena Tupua fled a life of abuse in New Zealand, including childhood trauma, before settling in Melbourne. "I have been there. I also know what it feels like to feel that you don't matter, having come from a life of abuse," Ms Tupua explains. "When I go out at night and I walk past people, and I see them sleeping on cold concrete in the rain, I don't see a homeless person – I see someone's son, daughter, and someone who once had safety, dreams and hope."
Her charity work began through involvement with the Youth Bus, where Bunnings initially donated supplies. When she formally established Hands Hearts Hope last year, the partnership continued through winter sleeping bag donations and hygiene product provisions. "Bunnings put us on the list so I can do a community barbecue to raise funds because everything at the moment is coming out of my pocket and I'm on an aged pension," she reveals.
Storage Challenge for Growing Charity
The charity now faces a practical challenge that threatens its expansion. "We have limited storage so at the moment I'm paying for a storage unit to keep my winter supply of sleeping bags and clothes in and I'm paying for that out of my age pension," Ms Tupua explains. She hopes Melbourne residents might donate storage space to help the charity fulfill its mission more effectively.
"I'm hoping that there might be people out there who have storage that we could use and would be prepared to donate in kind. It honestly doesn't matter where in Melbourne people could provide some storage. I would be so grateful." Those wishing to assist can contact her through the website handsheartshope.com.au.
Indigenous Entrepreneur Turns Beach Waste Into Gardening Business
Another Community Legends nominee, Mitchell Skuta, has transformed environmental concern into a thriving business. His recycled plastic gardening tool company, Gardening On Country, now features in 50 Bunnings stores nationwide, growing from a chance encounter with beach pollution in Gippsland.
"We were on a local beach down here in Gippsland and getting some professional photography taken on the beach and during that time I was constantly picking up waste and rubbish off the beach just to get some nice shots," Mitch explains. The experience led him to discover the Precious Plastics movement and develop garden tools from recycled plastic bottle caps – items often rejected by standard recycling facilities.
Born in Bairnsdale on Gunaikurnai Country and a proud descendant of the Yuin people, Mitch's Indigenous heritage shapes his environmental philosophy. "They have given us heaps of guidance and have been very supportive in the way that we've gone about it, the whole process," he says of Bunnings' support.
Cancer Survivor Volunteers Seven Days Weekly Across Melbourne
John Campbell, 72, completes the trio of remarkable nominees, volunteering seven days weekly despite his own health challenges. The courageous cancer survivor underwent four years of treatment for throat cancer at Melbourne's Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, yet continued community work throughout his recovery.
Now cancer-free, John maintains an extraordinary volunteering schedule that includes:
- Gardening at Werribee Cemetery, leaving flowers for unadorned plots
- Preparing free meals for homeless people at Salvation Army
- Supporting Reclink Op Shop with weekend meal services
- Repairing abandoned bicycles with Werribee Police for those needing transport
- Maintaining community gardens for fellow cancer patients
For thirteen years since retirement, John has dedicated himself to improving wellbeing, dignity and connection across multiple organizations including Rotary, Reclink, Salvation Army and Bunnings community barbecues. His daily hour at Werribee Cemetery involves mowing grass, pruning roses and maintaining grounds year-round.
These three Community Legends nominees represent the extraordinary volunteer spirit thriving in Melbourne communities, each transforming personal challenges into powerful community support systems that uplift countless lives across the city.
