Justin Dempster one of the founders of the Southport Soup Kitchen has sadly passed away.

A statement on the Soup Kitchen Facebook page...


'It is with the greatest sadness and shock that we have to announce the sudden death of our friend, colleague, confidante, rescuer and tireless worker Justin Dempster. Justin has worked for the poor and disadvantaged of Southport for over fifteen years and was instrumental in founding the Soup Kitchen.

He served as our chair and trustee and guided us through the following difficult years. He was a man of deep compassion who didn't just talk about helping ... he took on the powers that be and anyone who needed to be persuaded of the lack of help available to the homeless.

He gathered volunteers to him and kept the Soup Kitchen open and able to offer the haven it became to those in need. Justin insisted on calling the people who come to the Soupie our guests, a simple thing that exemplifies the ethos that we operate by. When he realised that there were working families who struggled to pay their bills and buy food as well he expanded the work of the Soup Kitchen to bring relief to them.

Justin was so much at the heart of the Soupie that at the moment we cannot conceive of how we will go on without him.

Our hearts go out to his family... our loss is nothing compared to yours.

Originally Posted by roving-eye

Justin Dempster one of the founders of the Southport Soup Kitchen has sadly passed away.

A statement on the Soup Kitchen Facebook page...


'It is with the greatest sadness and shock that we have to announce the sudden death of our friend, colleague, confidante, rescuer and tireless worker Justin Dempster. Justin has worked for the poor and disadvantaged of Southport for over fifteen years and was instrumental in founding the Soup Kitchen.

He served as our chair and trustee and guided us through the following difficult years. He was a man of deep compassion who didn't just talk about helping ... he took on the powers that be and anyone who needed to be persuaded of the lack of help available to the homeless.

He gathered volunteers to him and kept the Soup Kitchen open and able to offer the haven it became to those in need. Justin insisted on calling the people who come to the Soupie our guests, a simple thing that exemplifies the ethos that we operate by. When he realised that there were working families who struggled to pay their bills and buy food as well he expanded the work of the Soup Kitchen to bring relief to them.

Justin was so much at the heart of the Soupie that at the moment we cannot conceive of how we will go on without him.

Our hearts go out to his family... our loss is nothing compared to yours.

Similar to the graduate system, where students who have earned their degree are given the title unconditionally and those who have not earned the degree but are awarded one on condition that 'honorary' precedes the title. Then Justin Dempster should have been included on the Honours list, with an unconditional award for his hard work. As opposed to the rich toadies who pay for their honours awards under the misconception that they have earned it in some way.