Jane Macdonald

Sally Tonkin, CEO of St Kilda Gatehouse explains:  

This time last year, a woman was brutally murdered in an inner city suburb of Melbourne. The murder happened within a year of Jill Meagher's violent death. 

The woman's name was Tracy Connelly. Her boyfriend discovered her savaged body after the attack took place in their home. She was a caring, loving person, adored by the community. To this day, Tracey's killer is still at large.



You may not have heard of Tracy's story before. That's because news outlets that reported her murder used a combination of “St Kilda” and “prostitute” in their headlines. Tracy's death dropped off the front page of every website within a day.

Tracy was real, she had a community who valued her, a boyfriend and friends who loved her, yet why wasn't she wasn’t given personhood in death?

It's easy to think "she chose to do sex work, she knew her trade was dangerous." But victim blaming is not acceptable, regardless of a person's profession.

For most women involved in sex work, their opportunity to be 'normal' was stolen away at a young age. Systemic issues like childhood trauma, addiction, abuse and mental illness are the drivers of why girls - many aged 13 years old - become involved in sex work as a means to sustain their livelihood.



THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN...

What would make a difference to the lives of women like Tracy, the ones who shared her life and continue to live in the world she left? They told us they would be safer if St Kilda Gatehouse was open more often.

St Kilda Gatehouse is a safe space and shelter. It's like a nest where clients are nurtured and loved, treated with respect and dignity. Vital support services are on-hand, providing a pathway for change if that is sought.

Tragically Tracy Connelly's murder happened just metres from St Kilda Gatehouse. Could her death have been avoided had our doors been open?

Gatehouse Drop-in is only open four days a week. It costs $35,000 per year to open the Gatehouse for an additional day or night. If Gatehouse were open for longer, women would be safer. It would provide more women comfort and refuge. I ask you to please give generously, and in turn we'll thank you with significant rewards.

ALL OR NOTHING - THE INITIAL TARGET
Please help us reach this milestone to unlock the Gatehouse Drop-In an extra day per week
$35,000

STRETCH GOAL
The Gatehouse is unlocked for an extra weekday AND on a Saturday or Sunday - reaching clients Gatehouse has never met 
$70,000

ULTIMATE GOAL
$140,000
The Gatehouse is unlocked to support women seven days a week, as well as adding a night time shift too.

Please be part of the community that stands together. To honour the lives senselessly taken and to support an initiative that helps put an end to violence.

Sincerely,
Sally Tonkin
CEO St Kilda Gatehouse

The biggest challenge is reaching the initial Pozible target of $35,000. I'm confident there are many people who feel as passionately as we do about stopping the senseless violence against women. In recent weeks the media support of this issue has been overwhelming. 

IN THE MEDIA:

Kings Tribune
Love and Choices
67 Women

Mama Mia - Tuesday 22 July, 2014
She was a sex worker and she was murdered,
one thing doesn't make the other any less tragic 

The Age - Monday 21 July, 2014
Tributes paid on anniversary of St Kilda murder

ABC Australian Story - 12 May, 2014
In Tracy's corner

Gatehouse Unlocked Blog