Thanks for all you are doing to make our 2025 Shelter successful.
1. Making a big difference: ‘One Thousand and Two Thousand’
When your friends and family ask you what you have been doing this winter please say “One Thousand + Two Thousand’ i.e. you have contributed to an organisation that provided 1000 total nightly stays and 2000 meals to the most vulnerable in our community.
The Shelter ended on Sunday 14th September 2025. We will have operated continuously since 1 June 2025 for 105 days and will have achieved the following:
- 1000 total guest stays keeping vulnerable people out of the cold winter
- 2000 total meals provided
- 54 different registered guests using the Shelter over winter
- 430 volunteers – 330 on site at Koolamurt and at least 100 cooks from the churches
- 4 guests have found permanent accommodation through connections made at the Shelter
- 1 guest has found Fulltime employment and a ongoing house as apart of role.
- 2 guests have found temporary employment though connections made at the Shelter
- other guests have received car service/repairs through connections made at the Shelter
2025 has been a breakthrough year for BWNS with a series of ‘firsts’:
- we have operated for the longest period ever – we extended our season for the first time until 14 September (normally finished 31 August)
- operating 7 days a week for the first time in years
- largest number of guests and total stays ever
- largest number of volunteers ever
BWNS couldn’t have achieved all this without you
A note from Daryl our Volunteer Co-ordinator follows,
Today marks the closing of this year’s Winter Night Shelter.
It’s a bittersweet moment — relief that the season has been completed safely, but also a heavy heart knowing that tonight many will return to the uncertainty of the streets.
This season has been full of highs and lows. We’ve seen lives touched, friendships formed, and moments of hope where people felt seen and cared for. We’ve also faced challenges — long nights, difficult situations, and the ongoing reminder of how deep the need really is in our community.
Yet, every effort, every conversation, every bed made, and every meal shared has been worth it. The shelter is more than just a roof for the night — it’s dignity, compassion, and a reminder that no one is forgotten.
To our volunteers, churches, supporters, and most of all our guests: thank you. Together, we created something powerful — a community that shows love in action.
The shelter may be closing its doors today, but the work continues. The vision of a safer, kinder Bendigo for everyone is worth every step of this journey.
2. End of Season
(a) Guests
We are making arrangements to provide each of our guests with a high quality sleeping bag at the end of season. We will also be providing other services to them over the coming months (showertruck, laundry, barber etc).
Guests also have access to a range of services provided my organisations doing complimentary work – Ministree, Mad Cow, Salvation Army, Haven Homes etc.
(b) Please, please complete the Volunteer Survey
Please know that we take your feedback seriously and will be sharing the results with you. We are also asking our guests to complete a survey
(c) date for the diary
Annual General Meeting at 7pm on Wednesday 26 November at Holy Trinity, Flora Hill
Volunteer Celebration Lunch: Saturday, September 20th has been cancelled due to numbers.
(d) Emotions at end of season
End of season can be a time of complicated emotions for both guest and volunteer. If you would like to talk to a counsellor please contact Toni West on 0438 553 772 or toni.west@chapliancyaustralia.com . Toni is a chaplain and counsellor and has been involved with BWNS in the past. You can learn more about the organisation she is part of at www.chaplaincyaustralia.com
(e) Communication Spring/Summer/Autumn
We will continue to communicate with you once a month over Spring/Summer/Autumn to let you know what we are up to and how preparations for 2026 are going.
3. Stories of the Shelter
(a) Guest Graham
Many of you will know that one of our guests Graham was taken from Meeting Point in an ambulance and remains in hospital. Graham is in a serious but improving condition.
Huge thanks to the volunteers who did so well responding to the situation at Meeting Point. Huge thanks to the volunteers who have also visited Graham in hospital. And to Daryl our wonderful volunteer co-ordinator who located some of Graham’s family so they could be by his bedside.
Volunteers who have visited Graham this week say he is in better spirits and is grateful to volunteers and his time at the Shelter.
(b) Another Guest
Starts fulltime work as of Wednesday and housing is provided with role.
4. Closing quote
“Doing good is the only certainly happy action of your life” Philip Sidney
Thanks again for volunteering.
Daryl Lynch – Volunteer Co-ordinator
Andrew Weightman – Project Co-ordinator
Chris Dalton - Chairperson
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