Rosies Sunshine Coast hosted their annual Christmas in July. Presents were donated and wrapped by Students from Iona College. The school organised more presents to be distributed at our Wynnum Manly outreaches. It was a simple but thoughtful gesture. Many of our patrons were moved by the idea of receiving each a personal present.
Rosies branch coordinators were very active visiting schools. Rosies Brisbane coordinator visited Lourdes Hill College in Hawthorn, Our Lady’s of the Assumption in Enoggera, and St James Catholic Primary School in Coorparoo. She shared her rich experience on outreach. Rosies Cairns coordinator Lyall picked up donations from St Mary’s Catholic College and St Gerard Majella School.
Rosies Beenleigh coordinator Lisa took part in Year 8 students’ sleep out , ‘Sleep in a Box’, from Windaroo Valley State High School. Students cleaned the Rosies van. They loaded it with donations including sleeping bags, instant coffee, and non-perishable food in return for a hot Milo and a chat. Lisa talked about Rosies and the people we serve in Beenleigh. The students had many well informed questions and at one stage the discussion ventured around to drugs and they listened in awe about some of our team’s street experiences. We talked about how some people choose to live on the streets and that some have no choice. One of our local patrons lives in a car – a man who had a successful profession and a wife and children until things went wrong. It was an eye opening experience for the students.
We have been overwhelmed by local acts of kindness. Many knitting groups supplied us with their wonderful creations. Families generously donated many valuable outreach supplies. Businesses, such as the Australia Post on the Gold Coast, coordinated significant drives to support their local branches.
