The project is named in honour of their daughter Hannah Clarke, and her three children Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey who were killed at the hands of their father, Hannah’s estranged husband, in February 2020.
Nestled in a secret location, the nine townhouses will provide a safe space for families to start again.
“The thought of women and children, running around and playing, feeling free and the women feeling safe, it melts my heart the thought of it,” said Sue Clarke.
Lloyd Clarke expressed how grateful they are for so much support.
“Everyone’s pulled together… donating time or products, there are too many [people] to name, but our hearts go out and thank them very much,” he said.
One in particular, Mr X, is a philanthropist developer who helped fast-track this dream by donating the land anonymously.
“He said ‘well I’ve got a block of land and I want to partner with you to build housing for your families’,” explained Beyond DV founder Carolyn Robinson.
The project is a collaboration of two incredible organisations – Small Steps 4 Hannah and Beyond DV.
It’s hoped the first tenants will move in next month.
The goal is for them to live there for 12 to 18 months, supported by a range of recovery programs and services.
“So they’re not going to be alone on their journey, there’s going to be someone walking with them every step of the way,” Robinson said.
“To see a dream fulfilled, it’s just amazing… and the lives that it will change,” Clarke said.
It’s another selfless endeavour from the Clarkes, who have just shared their story with Nine News for a new podcast “Hannah’s Story”.
The podcast has skyrocketed to number one in the Australian charts; a reflection of how many people are connected to their cause.
“This has been one way of keeping this very important conversation about coercive control going,” Clarke said.
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“if they’re listening to the podcast, hopefully they’ll start to understand what coercive control is.”
In episode one and two listeners get to know Hannah and her three young children through the eyes of their loved ones.
Their precious, happy memories intertwined with heartbreak as the podcast dissects Hannah’s relationship and marriage with Rowan Baxter, highlighting the red flags of coercive control.
He was a man who was used to being in control, and when she started rebuilding her life he tried to gain the upper hand one last time, in the most horrific way possible, on the February 19, 2020.
This week, episode three explores the events that played out that morning, when Rowan Baxter ambushed Hannah and their three children in the car, pouring petrol over them and setting them on fire.
We speak to first responders, journalists and innocent bystanders, caught up in the tragedy, like Gold Coast dad Ben Young, who is sharing his story for the first time.
He described being just metres from the car when it went up in flames.
“It just went up and I just couldn’t believe it; I was actually blown off my feet in the gutter,” he said.
Also sharing his experience is QAS Medical Director Dr Stephen Rashford, who treated Hannah at the scene.
He was the last person she spoke to and recalled it being one of the most harrowing call outs of his career.
“[Hannah] knew she had significant injuries… but she was just so stoic and brave,” he said.
Hannah’s parents acknowledge listening to the podcast may be confronting, but they want people to hear the whole story and learn more about Domestic Violence, especially coercive control.
“It will be painful and no doubt we’ll have the tissues nearby because tears are never far away,” said Sue Clarke.
“But we’re very interested to hear what the message is and get that out there to everyone.”
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