Two years ago, a selfless entrepreneur worked around the clock to secure a home and land package for three young children who had been taken in by their aunt and her family after losing their mother in a tragedy that shook Australia.
In April 2021, neighbors found the badly burned body of Kelly Wilkinson, 27, in the back garden of her home in Arundel on the Gold Coast.
Her former partner, ex-US Marine Brian Earl Johnston, 35, reportedly doused her with gasoline and was found two blocks away in a front yard in a “semi-conscious state.” He was later charged with her murder.
Ms Wilkinson’s three children, aged between two and nine, were at home at the time of the alleged attack.
As the grieving children moved in with Kelly’s sister Danielle Carroll, her husband Rhys and their five cousins, building contractor Tamika Smith launched a community appeal to help build a new home for the family of 10.
On Tuesday evening, Kelly’s children and family move into their brand new, fully furnished, seven bedroom home on the outskirts of the Gold Coast.
Kelly Wilkinson’s children and their cousins (pictured during construction) can finally move into their new home
Mother-of-three Kelly Wilkinson (pictured) was reportedly doused in petrol and burned by her ex-husband
Until now, they lived together in a crowded four-bedroom house where sleeping accommodation spilled over into the living quarters.
“We sometimes end up with five in our bed,” Ms Carroll told A Current Affair ahead of Tuesday’s reveal.
Their new home was built by an army of local artisans and volunteers in a project spearheaded by Metricon Homes and My Bella Casa founder Tamika Smith, the stepsister of Mrs. Carroll’s husband.
Just days after Kelly’s death, Mrs Smith launched the I Stand With Kelly campaign calling on the Queensland construction industry to help build a new home for the family.
After answering hundreds of phone calls, texts and emails within 48 hours, a generous Good Samaritan who wished to remain anonymous offered the piece of land she needed.
“We need to let this family and our community know that this is more than just a house,” Ms Smith said at the time.
“This house is a pillar of what we are capable of when we come together. And as an industry, we don’t bury our heads in the sand when it’s time to get up.’
Kelly’s husband ex-Marine Brian Earl Johnston is charged with murder. They are pictured on their wedding day
Danielle Carroll and her husband Rhys (pictured in 2021) took in her sister’s three children after Kelly died
The first foundations were laid 18 months later and the house took less than a year to build, despite the enormous challenges faced by the construction industry.
It has been more than two years of blood, sweat and tears for Mrs Smith, who ran the project as a charitable project and coordinated all donors and volunteers amid the worst housing and construction insolvency crisis in Australian history.
The property was built for free by Metricon house.
Ms. Smith hopes the life-changing project will give the family a fresh start and new hope.
“You can’t help but see these kids and know that they deserve all the love in the world from everyone they meet — and that’s a testament to the number of people who have undeniably stood up without question to say, ‘We’re in,'” she shared. The Gold Coast Bulletin.
“When you look at the impact of a safe home, we give these kids hope, we give these kids such a long life in their future and their kids’ future in a stable home.
“And with this house, it’s not just ‘here’s a house’. You really hope to change the belief system in children who have suffered so much trauma.”
The family moves into their Gold Coast home less than a year after the first foundations (pictured) were laid in August 2022
The project was led by My Bella Casa founder Tamika Smith (pictured)
Mrs. Carroll and her husband set it up Kelly Wilkinson Foundation in Kelly’s memory to support victims of domestic violence.
Ms Smith has vowed to continue her mission to create permanent change for future generations in the dire housing situation faced by many vulnerable Australian families, while calling on governments to do more.
“This family, like so many others, deserves more, and this is our community standing up to say we’re not okay with this and that people deserve so much more than being a political statistic!” she said Tuesday.
“Long-term housing for vulnerable members of our community is what I have dedicated my life to.
“People deserve more than short-term strategies and this is what we are here to do, and to be more to help these kids.”
Johnston remains in custody and has yet to plead.
The death of mother-of-three Kelly Wilkinson (pictured) shocked the nation in 2021
He appeared in the Brisbane High Court earlier this month for a brief hearing, during which it was learned that Johnston had recently hired a new legal team and that lawyer Kim Bryson had yet to review the burden of proof against her client.
Crown Prosecutor Philip McCarthy KC told the court he expected Mr Johnston’s trial to take ‘somewhere over three weeks’.
He told the court that the Crown will claim that Mr Johnston had a ‘history of domestic violence … including sexual assault against’ Ms Wilkinson at trial.
Justice Callaghan said the closest available date for the trial would be early February next year.
He adjourned the case to September 11 to allow Ms. Bryson to talk to her client about his defense case.
The case was also scheduled for pre-trial discussion on November 17, where several requests are expected to be made by both the defense and the prosecution about how best to proceed with the trial.
Details: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).
The children have watched their new home transform from a block of concrete into a seven-bedroom home over the past year