Established in 1875 as the
proudly serving Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay
1 JULY, 2026
Fashion finds at hospital
Manager and volunteer coordinator at the new Footscray Hospital op-shop Sindi Lefort (left), shows off some of the fashion items for sale with volunteers Rania Ahmed and Karthika Rajendran. (Damjan Janevski) 553375_01
Open since February, the new Footscray Hospital isn’t so new anymore, but some parts of it still are, such as its opportunity shop ’The Good Find’ which recently began trading on the ground floor. Operated by a team of volunteers, The Good Find is open 10am-3pm Monday to Friday offering a carefully curated range of designer, premium, and quality everyday fashion. “We stock both new and pre-loved clothing, with a focus on stylish, wearable pieces in excellent condition,” shop manager and manager and volunteer coordinator Sindi Lefort explained. “Our range includes women’s and men’s fashion, accessories, and unique finds that combine quality, sustainability, and affordability.“ Open to hospital staff, visitors, patients, and the wider community, Ms Lefort said regardless of what visitors were looking for, she guaranteed they’d find the one thing all good op-shops pride themselves on: bargains. “Absolutely. One of the exciting things about the op shop is the opportunity to discover incredible value,” Ms Lefort said. “Every visit is different, with new pieces arriving regularly.”
Closure on pause By Cade Lucas A petition demanding the state government step in and save Footscray’s Foley House has attracted more than 1500 signatures, even as residents are moved out of the Salvation Army-owned property. Foley House provides accommodation for for vulnerable men, including those with disabilities and a history of homelessness, but after conducting a review, the Salvation Army recently decided to close the facility and transfer its roughly 30 residents to alternative accommodation. It was originally meant to close on 30 June but Star Weekly understands the
closure has been delayed after the state government provided funding for the facility. A petition launched by local activist group, Footscray Community Response, is demanding a moratorium on all resident transfers and for the state government to investigate ways to keep Foley House open. At the time of writing the petition had received 1590 signatures. “The large and growing number of signatures on this petition demonstrates the enormous community concern around this decision,” Footscray Community Response spokesperson Shifrah Blustein said, adding that many of the men being
transferred out of Foley House were at risk of returning to homelessness. A spokesperson for the state government said it was working to ensure that didn’t happen. “We are continuing funding until December 2026 to support residents in the transition process, and working closely with the Salvation Army to make sure no one faces homelessness,” the spokesperson said. Ms Blustein said the local community still wanted answers from the Salvo’s too. “How is it that with its $1.3 billion budget, and a growth in income of over a quarter of a billion dollars in the last three years, the Salvo’s is too poor to continue running this
essential service,” she said. A spokesperson Salvation Army Homelessness Services Victoria said Foley House was originally intended as a replacement for rooming houses, but that model was no longer suitable or viable. “Foley House has, due to the complexity of the residents, became a disability-like accommodation without access to any form of accommodation funding other than the Salvation Army itself,” the spokesperson said. “The disability funding rules have also changed substantially during the past decade. Specialised services have emerged and are better equipped to provide support for homeless men with complex needs.”
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