Dubbo Vinnies Community Sleepout turned into virtual event for 2021

The NSW Vinnies Community Sleepout encourages people to sleep rough for a night to raise money and awareness for homelessness. This year, the sleepout was scheduled to take place at the Old Dubbo Gaol.

However, to ensure the safety of the participants, the event has now gone virtual.

Participants will sleep in various locations like their backyard, car or an armchair, while connecting online with each other and the night's speakers.

The virtual sleepout will be held on Friday, August 27, starting at 6.30pm.

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Scott Macleod, Paul Hagarty, Murray Wood, Andrew McKay, Charlie Nguyen, Julie Webster. Geoff Mann, John Larkin, Terry Wilcher, Stephen Lawrence and Dan Sullivan will be the ones sleeping rough.

Mr Mann will also be the MC for the evening. He'll interview some of the sleepers about their decision to take part in the charity event.

Murray Hartin will present poems, including his work A Second Glance. It was partially inspired by interviews with homeless people during a push to ban them from Bondi Beach.

The night will also include St Vincent de Paul Bathurst central council president Neil Rabbett speaking about Vinnies' services.

All funds raised from the sleepout will be used to help St Vincent de Paul assist those who are experiencing, or who are at risk of, homelessness.

"We have seen people turn to charities in order to get by during this period, which is why events like the NSW Vinnies Community Sleepout are so important in enabling the society to continue to supporting people in their times of need," Vinnies NSW vice president of social justice Brooke Simmons said.

People can sponsor a sleeper or make a donation via www.vinnies.org.au/communitysleepout/dubbo.

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