LOCAL LIFE
BLACKTOWN’ S FINEST...
by John Mac Donald
You could call Dave Hammond an unpaid advocate for the extended Mt Druitt district— so much so that this long-term resident can confidently say,“ I love Bidwill.”
How can that be, when outside media so often paints a picture of violent crime, gangs, drugs and theft?
Hammond can say it because, alongside his wife Sallie, he spent decades running the faith-based organisation Fusion Australia from its St Marys base, delivering support programs for families and individuals. After many years living in Bidwill, he speaks warmly of its community spirit and neighbourly helping hands.
His path to Mt Druitt was not paved with academic qualifications.
“ A school report card said I had latent ability,” he recalled, but there weren’ t many of those— or many school attendances. As a teenager from a troubled family, he eventually climbed out a bedroom window one night and never returned.
“ Then there were drugs, the police, and I was arrested. From there, I was just trying to stay on the straight and narrow.”
At the same time, in Launceston, another teenager named Sallie was growing up in a strong faith-based family. The youngest of seven and an aunt at just nine, weekends were spent surrounded by nieces and nephews. A love of caring for children and supporting mothers grew early. At sixteen, she helped start an outreach program for street kids and young mums. One of those street kids, eventually, was Dave. His path led him to Jonah’ s Café, where Sallie served as part of the program.
“ She served me free coffee and raisin toast, and we chatted and played dominoes,” he said. After a few more conversations, he thought to himself:“ I’ m going to marry that girl.” He soon became involved in Fusion.“ It was one of those typical‘ 60s-style organisations,” he said of the atmosphere that shaped what is now a 61-year-old movement.
Five years after meeting, Dave and Sallie married in Launceston before moving to Victoria. Their work with Fusion later took them across several states, and eventually to Western Sydney, where they ran Fusion’ s local operations from its St Marys base. They rented in Bidwill first, then bought the home they still live in.
“ The first five years were the most challenging,” Hammond said.“ Fusion has 16 Australian and 17 overseas programs.” He helped with administration, but his focus— shared with Sallie— was building grassroots programs to support families and the disadvantaged, offering connection, friendship and care.
Hammond’ s articulate manner belies someone whose potential never developed into formal qualifications.
“ I love reading and I’ ve got five books on the go,” he said. One that made a
6 ISSUE 58 // JANUARY 2026 theindependentmagazine. com. au BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT