In Lynwood, everyone seems to know Trevor Gadeke. The 60-year-old is famous for his football talk, his devotion to North Melbourne and his friendly chats at the local coffee shop or the footy.
What many did not realise was that behind the cheerful banter, Trevor had been struggling for years in a home without the basics.
He had been sleeping on a mattress he bought in 1998, managing with a broken toilet, and living without cooling or heating.
That was until neighbour and friend Kristeen Melling decided to step in.
“I met Trevor about 10 years ago through work and he’s been coming to my house for birthdays and special occasions,” Kristeen said.
“When he turned 60, he told me he was comfortable at my place and I realised it might be because of his mattress. He told me he had the same mattress since 1998 and covered it with blankets because the springs scratched his back. I thought, Trevor, that’s not right.”
Kristeen put a post on the local Facebook page asking for help. The response surprised even her.
“Somebody bought him a brand-new mattress straight away, and then a plumber offered to fix his toilet,” she said.
“I realised we couldn’t just put new things in without doing a deep clean, so I started helping him sort through piles of clothes and scrub the place. Then others jumped in too. We got a second-hand fridge but it broke, so a local went out and bought him a new one for $600. People dropped off kettles, toasters, a microwave, furniture and even a hand-quilted North Melbourne lap rug. It was overwhelming.”
Trevor sees this experience as life-changing. “I stopped working about 11 or 12 years ago because of arthritis in my legs,” he said.
“My doctor told me to give up the job or it would get worse. I try to manage, but it has been hard. This lady here has been very good. She’s a good friend.”
The response has gone beyond material help. For his birthday in August, Kristeen posted a photo of Trevor blowing out candles. Dozens of locals who knew him only from the community sent well wishes.
“Seventy-five people got on and wished him a happy birthday,” Kristeen said. “He couldn’t believe it. Then little old ladies started donating their pension money. I cried. It was just overwhelming to see so many people care.”
Among those moved by Trevor’s story was Domino’s Langford franchisee Alok Saini.
“When I saw the post, I offered to help straight away,” Alok said. “I paid for his plumbing repairs and contributed towards his new mattress. We do this whenever there is a need. During COVID, Domino’s Langford delivered free pizzas to people in isolation. When there was a bushfire in Langford, we fed the community and the firefighters. This is part of who we are.”
Last week Thursday, Domino’s Langford hosted a Dough Raiser, donating one dollar from every pizza sold to Trevor.
“The aim is to get him a split system before summer,” Alok said. “We just want him to have a good life and not struggle for even a single thing. My staff are excited and so are our customers. The community has been incredible.”
Having spent his whole life in Lynwood, Trevor said the support has reminded him that he is not alone.
“Some people don’t know about my disability unless I tell them,” he said.
“Outside, I talk and joke about football, but inside things can be hard. This has meant a lot. A lot of people support me.”
Kristeen said the effort has shown what can happen when neighbours look out for each other.
“Everybody knows Trevor but they thought he was okay,” she said.
“It took asking one simple question; when did you last get a new mattress? to see what he needed. Now the community has become his family. It has been gobsmacking to see the support.”
