News from the House...
No images? Click here
Karinya News - December 2025
Dear Friends of Karinya
The arrival of the summer season is always a warm, joyful time at Karinya House. We hope you have been enjoying the touch of warmth in the air too, and amidst the chaos that is often part of the days of December, you have noticed moments of joy and peace.
We have indeed been surrounded by the love of the Karinya Village across the days of December. It really is an uplifting time of year in so many ways.
Gifts for women and their families, sponsored by members of our community, have been arriving each day. The Karinya elves have been busy preparing the gift bags for each woman from all the beautiful and thoughtful gifts received at the House. Over these days, each caseworker will deliver gifts to the women they are walking alongside. Plans for Christmas Day at Karinya are also afoot!
The 2025 Christmas Appeal is currently underway with matched giving being funded this year by our wonderful partners - Capital Chemist Group, The Tall Foundation and William Cole Funerals - who have provided combined funding to match $23,000, to make this year's appeal target, $46,000.
Amidst it all a number of residents have taken the next huge step, moving beyond Karinya to their respective new homes, with allocations through our housing partners. Every move is an exciting time, yet one also filled with some anxiety for many different reasons. The care team are intensely engaged throughout each woman's move, ensuring with each woman, that the new house has been set up with everything that is needed to make the space their home. Throughout this process the generosity of our partners is also very evident.
Thank you again for your support throughout 2025.
We wish you and all who are part of your lives, the very best of good things - Peace, Joy, Hope and Love!
We will leave the last word of 2025 from Lavinia .... Please click on the image below to hear her message ...
Please note: references to events or appeals below are for the information of all our Friends. If you are a financial Friend of Karinya House, be assured we value the current extent of your financial support, and no additional support from current donors is being sought through the sharing of this news, other than asking you to consider sharing this eNews with friends or family if it may be of interest to them.
The 2024-25 Annual Report
Recently, we celebrated the incredible volunteers who give their time, skills and hearts to Karinya House.
Over the 2024/25 financial year, our dedicated volunteers contributed an extraordinary 2,944 hours of service - the equivalent of $176,655 in wages that did not need to be paid
Behind every hour is a moment of care: a conversation, a warm welcome, a drive to an appointment, a comforting presence. Our volunteers help shape the safe, supportive environment every woman deserves.
We truly couldn’t do what we do without them. Thank you to each and every volunteer who walks alongside the women we support - today and every day.
Congratulations Monarch!
We were honoured to join Monarch Building Solutions recently in celebrating an incredible milestone - 20 years of excellence, service, and community leadership. Property Manager, Luisa attended on behalf of Karinya House, sharing in a moment that reflects so much more than a business anniversary.
For over a decade now, Monarch have walked alongside Karinya House, offering unwavering support through financial contributions, annual fundraisers, and countless Home Starter Packages that have directly impacted the lives of the women we journey with. Their generosity has helped create stability, dignity and fresh beginnings for many in our community.
As Lavinia shared in her message to the Monarch team:
“We have admired your growth over the years, always matched by your expanding community giving. The support you’ve provided to Karinya House has been a wonderful gift - warm, generous and truly life-changing.”
To everyone at Monarch Building Group - thank you. Thank you for championing the work we do and for standing with women in our region. And congratulations on 20 remarkable years.
Pictured: Joe Pratezina, Monarch Director with Luisa, our Property Manager.
Vale Una Wood
Karinya House team members, Sarah and Luisa, recently attended the funeral of Una Wood, a former volunteer of Karinya House.
Una was a valued and wonderful volunteer for Karinya House. Volunteer hours were in excess of 4,000 over the 10 years of service for Karinya House. During her time with Karinya, Una was presented with a Spirit of Canberra Award by Senator Gary Humphries at Karinya on 5 February 2004.
At the time of her resignation in 2009 as a volunteer, then Executive Director, Marie-Louise Corkhill said,
"This month we sadly bid farewell to Karinya’s longest serving volunteer, Una Wood, after almost 10 years of tireless dedication to Karinya. During this time Una has devoted an incredible 4,258 hours of her time, which has been mainly spent sorting, washing and distributing the massive amounts of baby and maternity items donated to Karinya by the community. Una’s calm presence, patience and energy will be sadly missed by the staff, clients and babies at Karinya. She has been an inspiration to us all and she takes with her our fondest wishes."
Financial support from Geoff and Una has been part of Karinya for over 20 years. Their recognition of the women we are privileged to walk alongside has never waivered.
We extend our sincere condolences to Geoff and all the family as they mourn Una and celebrate her life in every memory she leaves with them.
Snippets....
A few snippets from the Karinya "Green Notebook" ...
"Thank you Karinya house so much for your continuous support and understanding. Special thanks to my care team — as your words and presence truly give me hope."
Words from a woman who recently moved to her new home from Karinya: "Thank you all for your amazing support. Would not be here without you all. Thank you for being part of my story."
A Care Team member recently accompanied a woman to a particularly challenging appointment. "The only thing helping me right now is seeing you. Thank you so much."
#humansofkarinya #walkingalongsidewomen
Thank You!
A shout out to Shape - Canberra, who held a second bowling event to close out their 2025 Charity Events. They very kindly nominated Karinya to benefit from this event as well. Ellen, our Strategy and Funding Director, attended the event on 4th December to say a few words and extend gratitude from all of us here at Karinya!
Thank you also to the Zonta Breakfast Club of Canberra who have supported Karinya through the year with material goods as needed as well as a gift of funds to support essential items purchased for the Christmas period.
And thank you all - each one of you - for your part in walking alongside women with us - during 2025.
Stay safe, celebrate as you choose, and be the kindness you all bring to Karinya House. We hope to see you alongside us again in 2026.
#supportingwomen #standingalongside #ourvillage #ourcommunity
Karinya House is committed to reconciliation. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land and pay respects to Elders past, present and future. Sovereignty has never been ceded. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.
