Sydney had become the city of the lonely crowd,the superintendent of the Central Methodist Mission,The Rev Alan Walker said yesterday.
Inside the Life Line Centre in Flinders Street on May 6,1963Staff photographer
He was speaking at the official opening of the city’s first Lifeline Centre. It offers round-the-clock help to the lonely and desperate. Its slogan is:“Help is as close as the telephone.”
Those in distress should dial 31-0971.
Mr Walker said:“It is a tragic fact that as our material affluence has increased,there has also been a marked up-swing in our psychological,emotional and spiritual poverty.
“We have found an increase in drug addiction,not only to the serious drugs like cocaine,but to sleeping pills and tranquillisers.”
Centre jammed
Thousands jammed Flinders Street,Darlinghurst,when the Lord Mayor,Alderman H. F. Jensen,opened the centre.
He said it was the result of magnificent understanding and compassion.
As soon as the ceremony was over,a team of volunteers manned the telephones in the first of a series of continuous shifts.
The Lifeline Centre has been built by the Central Methodist Mission at a cost of £42,000.
It is housed in a 100-year-old building,once a Methodist Sabbath and day school.
The building has been completely remodelled. The facilities it offers include:-
A telephone counselling service.
“A marked up-swing in psychological,emotional and spiritual poverty.” Commuters on Elizabeth Street,Sydney on July 2,1962.Staff photographer
Fifty in night call for help
(March 14)
Fifty telephone calls from distressed people were received by the Central Methodist Mission between 6 and 10 o’clock the night the number of its Lifeline Centre was announced.
The Rev. Alan Walker said this last night at a private reception at the centre in Flinders Street,Darlinghurst.
The centre,which was built at a cost of £40,000,will be officially opened by the Lord Mayor,Ald. H. F. Jensen,on Saturday.
Mr Walker said the centre’s telephone number (31-0971) was announced prematurely last Wednesday.
Wide Range Of Activities
When the Lifeline Centre begins operating a voluntary staff of 96 people will man the telephone 24 hours a day.
The volunteers will provide advice and solace over the telephone,and help,if necessary,to distressed people such as would-be suicides,alcoholics,drug addicts,or people with family or social problems.
“The city of the lonely crowd...” Rev. Alan Walker in 1963.Staff photographer
It will also have social workers in radio-controlled cars,an extensive opportunity clothing store and fitting rooms,social guidance and psychiatric counsellors and group activity facilities.
About 200 people,mainly volunteers,will take part in the centre’s operation,and services will include home nursing and foot care for pensioners.
The Minister for Health,Mr W. F. Sheahan,congratulating Mr Walker on the centre’s opening last night,said:“I think we can see the genius,organising ability and power of oratory of the Rev. Alan Walker,whose name has become a household word in Sydney,in this centre.”
The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney,Dr. H. R. Gough,who also attended the reception,described the centre as “one of the greatest experiments or adventures in evangelism the Church has taken on in Sydney for a long time.”
£37,000 Raised For Centre
A total of £37,000 had been raised,mainly through public subscription,for the centre,Mr Walker said.
The Central Methodist Mission hoped for a total of £50,000,so there would be a surplus to cover the first year’s running costs,he said.
continues to provide a free,24-hour telephone crisis support service. The telephone service can be accessed by calling13 11 14 within Australia.