139 Club

MacGillivrays has been supporting The 139 Club since 1998.

The 139 Club is a drop in centre for the homeless or anyone experiencing difficulties in their lives. The club aims to provide a better quality of life for the homeless, destitute and socially isolated people. MacGillivrays’ support includes raising money and buying produce and provisions for and preparing and serving meals on weekends and all public holidays.

In 1998, John Hunt, a former employee of the firm, realised that when State and Federal Government offices shut up offices on Friday afternoon, the support provided to the needy also closed. On weekends, no funding was being provided from government sources to feed the homeless and destitute.

Initially, with a band of 12 volunteers (many from, or with, MacGillivrays connections) John cooked and fed Saturday lunch to an average of 40 people at The 139 Club at 505 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley.

Now, almost 50 volunteers serve lunch on Saturdays, Sundays, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and all public holidays.

The volunteer’s philosophy is to only serve food that he would, himself, eat at home. The cost of ingredients for meals is currently around $2500- $3000 per month.

In 2003, John Hunt decided to gather research on destitute people by living in a hostel for the homeless for five months.

As a result of his experience, John discovered that people are rarely homeless because of an addiction. Homeless people are often on a downward spiral because they view their life as hopeless, without any joy and with nothing to look forward to. Once in the spiral, the momentum and negativity increases and it is difficult to get out of the spin.

In providing hot, cooked meals to the homeless and needy through The 139 Club, the aim is to provide some comfort and quality to the lives of Brisbane’s less fortunate.

In December for the past four years, MacGillivrays ran an appeal through its Client Information Bulletins to collect Christmas presents and cash donations to help The 139 Club. As well, in 2006, MacGillivrays staff put together a 'recipe book' which was sold and the proceeds given to the 139 Club.

Collecting food, presents and other 'Christmas goodies' is now an annual event. Each December a box is placed at the bottom of our Christmas Tree for people to place gifts and food for Christmas Day.

MacGillivrays sponsors and runs a monthly raffle throughout all offices to continue to raise money for the 139 Club.

Many MacGillivrays’ people give up their spare time to volunteer for different organisations and charities.

As a result of our appeals

Additional MacGillivrays’ staff and Partners and some MacGillivrays’ clients have become regular volunteers on weekends at The 139 Club (approximately 12 times a year) cooking and serving meals to the homeless.

A woman now supplies small hand-make cakes of soap for each homeless person who uses the showers at the Club;
MacGillivrays’ clients and staff regularly donate thoughtful gifts, lollies, chips and nuts for Christmas Day;
John receives, throughout the last year, bags of clothing, blankets and shoes.

About the 139 Club

The 139 Club was established in 1975 by a group of concerned citizens as a drop-in centre and refuge for the homeless and destitute. It was first housed at 139 Charlotte Street, Brisbane, hence the name. In 1983, the 139 Club became an independent Incorporated Association, receiving some Government funding. During the International Year of the Homeless [1987], the 139 Club received a Government Grant to build a new Centre at 505 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley.

The 139 Club's Philosophy statement reads -

"The 139 Club aims to provide a better quality of life for the homeless, destitute and socially isolated people, within their own framework. While self-reliance and participation are strongly encouraged, clients are accepted and supported unconditionally. This is the basic philosophy of the 139 Club. We are providing a safe and stable, non-denominational, non-political and non-racial environment with a holistic approach to meeting people's clients' needs on physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual and social levels.

Our operations have a strong emphasis on social networking to expand clients' horizons, minimise social isolation and improve their self-esteem by providing support, contact and avenues for change towards improved quality of life and relationships with the wider society.