Children who have lost loved ones to homicide now have a place to go for support and healing in Blacktown (NSW). Grace’s Place, a world first trauma recovery centre named in honour of Grace Lynch, the mother of Anita Cobby, who was murdered in 1986, held its opening ceremony on 2 February, 2023. It will serve as a retreat and place of healing and restoration for young people coping with the aftermath of homicide.
Executive and student leaders from Mountain View Adventist College helped celebrate the opening. Student leaders worked together with students from Knox Grammar School, performing items and assisting dignitaries and guests Mr Irwin Steyn, Principal at Mountain View Adventist College, said, “Whilst we are saddened that such a facility needs to exist, we have already started conversations with Grace’s Place to see how we can work together to the benefit of the children who need to visit this world first facility”.
In a testament to the need for such a place of refuge, Executive Director Martha Jabour announced at the opening ceremony that the centre was already helping its first guest, a 6-week-old baby who had been impacted by homicide. Grace’s Place has residential and counselling facilities and will serve as the head office of the Homicide Victims Support Group (Aust) Inc.
For more information on Grace’s Place, visit https://gracesplace.org.au/.
