Orange Sky Australia is committed to providing access to clean clothes, warm showers and genuine, non-judgemental conversation for all Australians. In remote communities, access to laundry services can be limited and cost prohibitive.
Lockhart River is a remote Aboriginal community in Far North Queensland near the Great Barrier Reef, and home to Orange Sky’s first remote service. Orange Sky’s Lockhart River service works alongside the community to build impact through free laundry, local employment and local partnerships.
We are grateful to the Traditional Custodians – Kuuku Ya’u, Wuthathi, Kanthanumpu, Uutaalnganu, Umpila and Kaanju people – the community, and Lockhart River residents for allowing Orange Sky to provide the community with a safe and respectful place for laundry and connection.
We first arrived in 2017 with a custom-built ex-defence truck with three washing machines and dryers. ‘Pytham,’ which was named by the community, has since been retransformed into a fixed laundry pod, located at the heart of the town, run by local employees. Pytham is adorned with the artworks of three local artists; Silas Hobson, Fiona Omeenyo and Rosella Namok.
Our laundry pods are static, standalone structures that remain at a location for an extended period. Pytham pod is equipped with three washing machines, three dryers and six orange chairs.
