Important Update: Louise Hunt

22 April 2025

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we, the Protea Place team, try to articulate the profound sadness and grief we feel at the loss of our beautiful friend, Louise Hunt.


Today, standing alongside Mayor Geoff McDonald, we struggled to find words adequate to express the devastation that has gripped our community. The raw emotion and visible distress of our Mayor spoke volumes about the impact Louise had on everyone who knew her.

A Geoff McDonald and Amanda Dalton are standing next to each other in Toowoomba.

Our deepest love and care are with her beloved children, her parents Anton and Ally, her sisters, and all her extended family, work colleagues, and countless friends. Louise’s world revolved around her children and family, and our hearts ache for them during this unimaginable time.


Louise was loved and adored by all. Her boundless care and compassion extended to anyone in need, and her unwavering dedication to supporting Protea Place at every possible opportunity forged a beautiful friendship with her and the entire TUFF Australia family.


The horrific circumstances of Louise’s passing on April 15th have left us heartbroken and resolute. We will honour her memory by fighting harder than ever and we will never give up on the work that was so close to her heart. Louise will forever remain at the very heart of all that we do, and we will not let her life and everything she stood for be forgotten.


Always in our hearts and forever remembered,

Amanda & The Entire PP Team

Join us at the Candle Light Vigil

In light of the devastating loss of our dear friend and tireless Protea Place supporter, Louise Hunt, we have made a change to the planned Candlelight Vigil.


With the blessing of her family, we will now be gathering in the garden/lawn area at Gips to honour Louise. Her family deeply appreciates the outpouring of love and care during this incredibly difficult time.


Please join us as our community comes together to wrap our collective arms and hearts around them for a Candle Light Ceremony officiated by Queensland Police Service Chaplain.

Learn More

Thanks to the Toowoomba Community

15 April 2025
MASSIVE SHOUTOUT: Celebrating Our Amazing Local Supporters! Today, we want to shine a light on the incredibly generous and supportive local businesses who are the backbone of Protea Place, helping us make our everyday operations possible. Many of these wonderful businesses have been with us since we opened our doors in 2019 and continue to stand alongside us in unwavering support of our community. From having 100% of our rent covered by the incredible TUFF Australia , to the beautiful complimentary floral arrangements provided by Floral Image Ipswich & Darling Downs , every single contribution is deeply valued and treasured.
A group of women are posing for a picture on a balcony.

Thanks to Lou's Place

8 April 2025
Huge thanks to Lou's Place ! Six years ago, in our early days of dreaming and building Protea Place, we journeyed to Sydney to visit the incredible Lou's Place . It was the closest model we could find to the vision we held, a beacon of hope in action for vulnerable women. We spent a day surrounded by kindred spirits – women utterly devoted to creating a better world. We spoke the same language, shared the same unwavering determination, and knew we had found our tribe. [ Link to ABC Compass story about Lou's Place ] Lou's Place generously shared their invaluable knowledge, learnings, and insights from their many years of incredible work. While six years have brought changes – a move to a new home in Redfern and the natural evolution of staff – the bond forged that day remains a cherished part of Protea Place's history. Amanda D, Jacqui, and Amanda T made that crucial trip possible six years ago, allowing the Toowoomba Women's Collective to learn from Lou's Place's 20 years of impactful work. We continue to admire your vital work in providing a safe and non-judgmental space for women in crisis. Thank you for your pioneering spirit and for showing us what's possible!
A logo for the avenues of highfields with two trees on it.

Thanks to the Avenues of Highfields

3 April 2025
A massive thank you to The Avenues of Highfields ! One of the most rewarding aspects of our work is transforming houses into safe and beautiful homes for women and children recovering from domestic and family violence. The Avenues of Highfields made a generous donation of stunning homewares and furniture from one of their display homes. This has allowed us to create a truly beautiful and healing environment for a family in need. We don't just furnish houses; we create spaces of healing, helping women and children get their lives back on track. And a special shoutout to our amazing Protea Place staff, Ash and Kat, who worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life! We don't just furnish houses; we create spaces of healing!