Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has officially opened yet another housing complex for homeless veterans in Queensland.
The Len Waters Apartments are located in the inner-northern Brisbane suburb of Bowen Hills, and will provide homes for veterans in need—there are an estimated 6,000 homeless soldiers across the country.
“Stable, secure housing is one of the foundations veterans need to turn their lives around,” Rinehart said in a statement.
“Those who were willing to sacrifice all for us deserve to be off a proven road leading to daily stress and health problems.”
The announcement follows the opening of the Daniel Keighran VC Apartments in Norman Park on Oct. 12, alongside the Ben Roberts-Smith Beach Houses and Sergeant Matthew Locke MG Apartments in Perth in July.
Rinehart also previously supported the Sir Valston Hancock House facility in Western Australia, which provides nine apartments to veterans.
The Len Waters Apartments will be run by Veteran Housing Australia, alongside the Salvation Army and was officially opened by former special forces operative Ben Roberts-Smith and Waters’ daughter Di Russell.
Members of the Redland Bay Returned Serviceman’s League also attended, alongside federal One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.
The apartments are named in honour of Warrant Officer Leonard “Len” Waters, who flew 95 operational sorties in a P-40 Kittyhawk with the No. 78 Squadron RAAF in the South West Pacific in 1944 and 1945.
Waters was born in 1924 at Euraba Aboriginal Mission near Boomi in northern New South Wales and moved to south-west Queensland as a boy.
He left school to support his family while still a teenager, becoming a shearer, and later training as an aircraft mechanic before enlisting in the RAAF in Brisbane in 1942.
“Our family is so proud to see Dad’s name on a place that gives veterans a safe home,” daughter Di Russell said.
“He served his country with everything he had, and this is a wonderful way to remember him.
“We thank Mrs. Rinehart and everyone involved for honouring Dad in this way, and for looking after the veterans who will call this place home.”
Roberts-Smith said he was honoured to help open the facility.
“No private Australian has done more for homeless veterans than Mrs. Rinehart,” he said.
“She hasn’t waited for governments to act. She has put her own resources on the line, and veterans right across Australia are better off for it.”
Soldier On Australia recognised Rinehart as an “Honorary Guardian of Australian Veterans” for her efforts and $200 million (US$139 million) contribution to help provide housing for an estimated 6,000 homeless veterans across the country.
Hancock Prospecting says six apartment buildings have now been acquired across Australia for housing homeless veterans, with more to come.
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