From stormy seas to a safe harbour: Desley’s journey home

Published: 

9 June 2026 10:07AM

“You have to talk to people, because doors don’t open if you don’t.’’

Desley was struggling to find a stable, affordable rental when she received help from the our department and several community organisations. With this support, she was able to move into social housing.

Now Desley and her constant companion, Milly, are settling into their new home and making friends with neighbours in a complex at Capalaba.

Delivered by the Queensland Government, in partnership with Mangrove Community Homes, the complex features 15 one-bedroom units. Designed to meet the needs of older women, 9 of the units are built to Gold level and 6 to Silver level of the Social Housing Design Guideline.

Desley has lived a remarkable life, with successful careers first in accounting, then in science, conservation, and research. Alongside this, she has a lifetime of adventures to write about for her 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

She has more than 40 years of sailing experiences around Australia, New Zealand, and many of the South Pacific Island nations, as well as many solo caravanning trips through vast areas of outback Australia.

Desley was also a solo parent and she describes herself as very capable, resourceful, and resilient, but says nothing in her previous life prepared her for the stress of housing insecurity.

"I've spent 36 hours lashed onto the cockpit whilst fighting to stay alive when the yacht I was crewing on got caught in a gale from the Southern Ocean. We were off the coast of South Australia, and the gale destroyed the Kangaroo Island fishing fleet,’’ she said.

"Since May 2022 I have had to move six times in four years because landlords wanted a new tenant willing to pay double my rent, or to sell the property. It’s so stressful, it’s out of your control and there’s nowhere to go.

“I had to sell all my beautiful furniture for almost nothing, pay storage on other items, plus every time you move you have to spend thousands of dollars for the removal truck, bond clean etc., and then scrape together money for bond and rent for a new place. Try doing all that in your 80s.

“And every time I pulled out the packing boxes Milly would start stressing too, and she is still chewing on a front leg."

Mangrove Community Homes, through their Forgotten Women initiative, provided rental assistance and expedited Desley’s transition to their new complex.

Prior to her move, the STARH team at Wesley Mission Queensland also supported Desley with a rental subsidy and paid her removal costs twice.  She said, most importantly, staff had faith she would be okay and would eventually be successful in her quest for social housing. They even provided new appliances when she moved into her new home and have rejoiced with her in her beautiful new surroundings.

“I’m just so grateful to Mangrove Housing, and to everyone who has helped me along this stressful journey.  I had lost faith in ever finding a place, but others gave me encouragement to keep fighting.

“Now it’s taking me a little while to really believe that it has happened—this home is mine. And I know the other ladies living in this apartment complex feel the same.

"Thank you everyone."

If you or someone you know needs housing help

Call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or contact your Housing Service Centre.

If you are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness, contact the Homeless Hotline for free on 1800 474 753 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Find out more about housing help and support.