Tracy McCartney

"From Tea to Transformation: Tracey McCartney's M25 Journey in Kalgoorlie"

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In the heart of Kalgoorlie, a mining town on the edge of the Western Australian desert, Tracey McCartney's story unfolds as a powerful testament to the impact of grassroots community service. What began as a simple act of kindness - offering a cup of tea to those in need - has blossomed into M25, a comprehensive support hub that's changing lives and restoring dignity to the area's most vulnerable residents.

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Tracey's journey with M25 began almost by accident. As the secretary at the Church of Christ for about 20 years, she found herself responding to the immediate needs of people who came to the church's new location. "When we moved location, we moved to Kalgoorlie. To the new location at Lane Street, we had some people coming in asking for a cup of tea and so I made them a cup of tea," Tracey recalls. This simple act of hospitality quickly evolved as she recognized and responded to more needs. "Then I thought I'll get some fresh clothes. I'll get a towel. And so things just kind of snowballed to what we've got today."

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Today, M25 is a bustling hub of activity, offering a range of services to the local homeless population and Indigenous people from surrounding communities. Tracey describes a typical morning: "People know that we open at 8 o'clock. People are waiting outside. They usually wake up from sleeping. Most of them are homeless. So they will wake up at daybreak from where they've been sleeping on the street and be ready to come here for a shower and breakfast."

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The collaboration with Orange Sky has been a game-changer for M25. Tracey's eyes light up as she discusses the impact of the laundry services. "When I hear the statistics that come back from Phillip from the washing and the amount of showers that we do as well, because you're kind of just busy on the ground with people coming and going and that. And you don't really appreciate the actual numbers," she shares. The ability to provide clean clothes and bedding has had far-reaching effects, even improving health outcomes. "I've had feedback you know people have um doctors at the hospital and nurses have said you know since these services have been introduced that they see people coming in getting treated are are cleaner."

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One of the most striking aspects of Tracey's approach is her emphasis on building relationships and creating a sense of family. She doesn't see her work at M25 as a job, but rather as a place to meet with friends. This perspective is particularly evident in her interactions with the children who frequent the center. "Some of them we've known like since our babies since they you know since they come along so it for me it's like you know a bit more than it's like I was saying before it's not like work it's a bit more like family," Tracey explains.

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The location of M25 in Kalgoorlie, on the edge of the desert and near several Indigenous communities, provides unique opportunities and challenges. Tracey sees this as a blessing, allowing them to engage with and learn from a diverse range of people who might not have access to such services in more urban environments.

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Looking to the future, Tracey hopes to see M25 continue to grow and adapt to meet the increasing needs of the community. She's particularly excited about the possibility of installing permanent Orange Sky pods, which would allow for even more efficient laundry services.

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Tracey McCartney's story is a powerful reminder of the impact that one person's compassion and dedication can have on an entire community. From a simple cup of tea to a comprehensive support hub, M25 and its collaboration with Orange Sky are changing lives one load of laundry at a time, restoring dignity and hope to those who need it most in Kalgoorlie.