Diane Whittaker a 50 year old Kamilaroi housewife from Walgett, Australia has struggled with many other residents in the Block. At the age of 12 she ran away from her home to Sydney, Australia on a tour bus of a Aboriginal rock band called the Black Lace. When she was 18 she and her mother moved into the Block at 96 Eveleigh Street. In addition, she lived in 92 and finally settled at 48 Eveleigh Street.In 1975, Diane married her husband Jeff, who later passed away in 1997. Diane and other Block residents opposed to the Redfern needle exchange, which was a van parked in a children's play area. The Block felt that the children were exposed to drugs. They fought very hard to remove the Redfern it was not removed until 2005. Diane witnessed how her community changed from vibrant and healthy to a troubled place ruled by drugs and violence. In fact, she said herself "My daughter Vanessa had her first encounter with heroin at the age of 12." In 1997, she was selected to be moved from the Block. She now currently has 11 children (6 of who are alive) with 6 grandchildren. She now resides in Glebe, Australia.
