Media Release For Information
18th October 2010 Preetesh Morar
0414596709
IF A FOUR YEAR OLD GIRL ASKED YOU TO CUT OFF ALL HER HAIR, “ SHORT
LIKE A BOY”, SO THE MEN WOULDN’T TOUCH HER AT NIGHT, WHAT WOULD
YOU DO?
When you are young and homeless, who helps protect you?
This ONE request from a little homeless girl changed the life of local Brisbane hairdresser, Jessica Kirkman who has
spent the past four years volunteering for various organizations assisting the homeless in Brisbane, including
Homeless Connect, which connects professionals willing to offer their services for free to the homeless community.
Cutting hair for homeless people is where Jess met the young homeless girl who was being sexually abused.
“I was shocked.” Jess explains, “I just wanted to pick her up and take her home, protect her from what was going
on. Homeless people are so vulnerable – especially the children. I just knew I needed to do everything I could to
help these people.”
Jessica, who is only 25, will take her mission to change the lives of as many homeless people in her community as
possible to the streets to mark the start of ANTI-POVERTY WEEK (Oct 17- 24) with the launch of her first book, Red
Wine Stories – proceeds from which will be donated to the Pindari Womens Accomodation in Spring Hill Brisbane
which shelters some 940 women through out the year.
Each day nearly 1 in every 200 Australians is homeless, without safe, secure or affordable housing.
Last year, 105 000 Australians experienced homelessness.
One in every 154 Australians sought help from a homeless assistance service and one in every 39 children
aged under 4 slept in a homeless service.
23% of Australia’s homeless are children
Jessica said, “I could not think of a better time to launch a book to help the homeless than Anti-Poverty week when
one in 10 people are living below the poverty line. Poverty and homelessness is EVERYONE’S problem – we all need
to do our bit to care for and support those less fortunate than ourselves.”
Red Wine Stories is being launched to mark the start of Anti- Poverty week.
Jessica is an inspirational and captivating young Australian, whose story really shows us we can all make a
difference in the world.
For information or to interview Jessica please contact Preetesh Morar 0414 596 709
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NEWS 
