AFTER 31 years of marriage to an “unpredictable” man, Netta Turner (52) was suddenly on the street.
The man who vowed to love and cherish her was prone to violent outbursts.
One such incident 18 years ago left Ms Turner, who is profoundly deaf, with a spinal injury and having to use a wheelchair.
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“He’d been drinking since he was about 15 years old and is almost 70 now; over time alcohol ruins the brain and for the last year or so prior to that he just got worse.”
Ms Turner’s husband threw her out of the house last October.
“From there I went to the Salvation Army church where I’d been going for the past year, I’m a member of the church, and explained everything and said ‘what am I supposed to do?’,” she said.
“They managed to find me a room at a backpackers for about four days until I was able to move into the Beacon.”
Ms Turner said finding a suitable home was not easy.
“It’s very difficult to find somewhere that’s wheelchair accessible,” she said.
“I have now been living at the Beacon (crisis accommodation) for almost five months, but I have managed to find somewhere,” she said.
“I haven’t moved in yet because it needs some modifications, but I have managed to find somewhere in Mt Hawthorn.
“I should be moving in within the next month, depending how long it takes to fix everything up.”
The retired teacher wants to continue volunteering with an adult literacy class, planned by the Salvation Army.
“With my teaching experience, I’m pretty sure I can help others out to learn to read or write,” she said.
“I help with the Red Shield appeal. I’m always collecting and doing things.”
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