Hands Across Canberra board chair Greg Boorer, Master Builders ACT board chair Frank Porecca and Chief Minister Andrew Barr with four generations of the Leemhuis family – Alex, Peter, Urselina, Darrell and Brody – at the Hands Across Canberra/Master Builders ACT charity house sod turning event at Whitlam. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Four generations of the Leemhuis family have helped build Canberra – and now they’re building a house that will help many more Canberrans affected by the scourge of domestic and family violence.
Master Builders ACT and Hands Across Canberra launched their fourth charity house project together this week, and manning the shovels alongside the politicians were Alex and Urselina Leemhuis, who founded A+P Leemhuis in 1956 after emigrating from the war-torn Netherlands.
Their son, grandson and great-grandson stood beside them, reflecting an integral part of Canberra’s post-war migrant story.
The build at Whitlam will bring together a huge swathe of the construction industry to deliver a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house, but more importantly, hope.
Past projects in Franklin, Deakin and Strathnairn have raised millions for charity, in a fruitful and enduring collaboration between two Canberra institutions.
The house project was formally launched by Chief Minister Andrew Barr, with the assistance of the Suburban Land Agency, which worked with Hands Across Canberra to identify the block on one of Whitlam’s highest points, with sweeping views towards the blue line of the Brindabellas and a brand new playground across the road.
The architect-designed house will include a pool and space for a growing family, just up the road from the eventual Whitlam school site and less than 15 minutes’ drive from Civic.
Mr Barr said the charity house project represented best practice in every way, bringing together the community from government to individual businesses.
“We need to build a lot of houses in Canberra in the coming weeks, months and years,” Mr Barr said.
“The previous success of charity house projects has been so strong I’m sure today marks just another step in this collaborative model to increase housing supply – by just one – but also to support our community in doing so.”
The house also marks the centenary of Master Builders ACT, and board chair Frank Porecca told the gathering the house exemplified the MBA’s values since its foundation in 1925.
“In so many ways, this represents what the industry does. We think of the industry as this mythical beast, but really it’s our community members working in construction,” he said.
Mr Porecca acknowledged a long list of contributors including: Oztal Architects, Austral Bricks, Absolute Approvals, Belconnen Concreting, Delnas Metal Roofing, Department of Design, Capital Veneering, Cord Civil, E & S, Royal Complete, Reece, Alltype Electrical, Selfie Surveys, Sellick consultants, Aaron Still consulting, Herzog Steel, Joe Deren signs, the Master Builders Fidelity Fund, Piscina Pools, Queanbeyan Pre-Mixed Concrete, Rivoland tiles, Tiger Waste and Recycling among many, many more.
“That’s before we’ve even turned a sod of soil,” he said.
“It really warms me to think how we can come together as an industry on a project like this.”
Mr Boorer thanked many others who had also contributed to the projects, including Zango, Bradley Allen Love, OneX and media representatives who helped tell the story.
“We love working with the builders because we are building social infrastructure for the community too,” Mr Boorer said.
“There’s an old saying that also applies on building sites – many hands make light work.
“As this house goes up, as a family moves in and grows here, as the suburb fills, we will also be building hope here in Canberra brick by brick.”
Like so many others, Canberra has been a place of hope and home for the Leemhuis family.
“Everyone thinks their family’s the best, but, sorry – ours is,” third-generation builder Darrell Leemhuis said.
“My father and my family back everything I do, and the support I get from them makes it all possible. We are so proud of our family and this community.”
