The Handyland House That Youth Built

An ambitious challenge is being undertaken by apprentices from the Master Builders Association (MBA) and TAFE trade students to build a three bedroom home at the Sydney Home Show to raise money for The Children's Hospital at Westmead.

The Handyland House That Youth Built is an exciting project that brings together the youth of today with the youth of tomorrow. A three bedroom, three bathroom house has been designed by Built Environment students from the University of New South Wales. MBA and TAFE students, including carpenters, bricklayers, electricians, plumbers, tilers, plasterers and painters will be working flat out at the Show to complete the first module in time for the official opening on Saturday 17th March at 12.30pm. The Hon Carmel Tebbutt, MLC, Minister for Juvenile Justice and Minister Assisting the Premier on Youth will officially open the "Handlyland House That Youth Built".

The total package has been valued at over $300,000 and will be auctioned by Starr Partners on site at Harrington Park in June.

Prospective buyers of the house and land package have a unique opportunity to assist The Children's Hospital at Westmead. "The money raised from the auction of the house will go towards establishing a Day Treatment Centre for children with Cystic Fibrosis (CF)", says Prof Peter van Asperen. "Cystic Fibrosis is the most common life-threatening genetic condition affecting Australian children and the Day Treatment Centre will provide benefits for the 350 children with CF cared for by the Hospital. The Centre has the potential to further improve our patients' quality of life as well as their long-term outcome as the children progress into adult life."

On Sunday night the module will be loaded onto special trucks and transported throughout the night to the final destination at Harrington Park where students will work tirelessly to complete the project and do the landscaping over the next few weeks. The public will be able to view the completed project there from the end of April prior to auction in June.

All materials used for the project have been donated and the house will be decorated and furnished courtesy of many generous sponsors and show exhibitors.

The Sydney Home Show 2001 is open to the public from 10am - 8pm daily and 6pm on Sunday. Admission prices are $12 adult and $8 aged pensioners (GST incl) and children under 16 are free. If you travel by CityRail, you can receive a $4.00 discount (GST incl) on your adult ticket. For details on the home show visit www.sydhomeshow.com.

For further information, please contact:

Lynne Phillips & Associates
Ph 9968 1866.

Or, after 26th March:

Debra Fowler
Public Relations
The Children's Hospital at Westmead
Ph 9845 3584 or on pager 6904 via Ph 9845 0000.