Going to the hairdresser always leaves you feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world, but many of us take the service for granted.
For some, especially those living on the street or in other forms of accommodation, getting a haircut is right out of their price range.But, thanks to local Brisbane hairstylist Stacey Bedrick, Rosies Friends of the Street patrons are able to enjoy that salon experience for free. She heads down to meet the Rosies crew at the Churches of Christ Pantry Assist Program in Annerley every six weeks and for two hours, spends time cutting hair and speaking to the patrons. For the past two years, she’s worked with Hair Aid, which is how she became involved with Rosies.“I was drawn to (charity work) because I’ve got the time and the skill and I thought I can do this,” she said. “I love meeting all the patrons that come here and have a chat with them.”
One of Stacey’s regular guests, Andrew, said the free haircuts went a long way in his predicament.“ It’s great when you get someone who does a really good job like Stacey. I’ve been in this hardship for nine years and when you do something like get a haircut it’s emotional and psychological, it’s not just a haircut. There’s practical things I need it for like appearance -when I talk to Stacey and we discuss style, it’s about trying to land a job and that’s damn hard.”
Valma is another guest who had her hair cut by Stacey during her visit to the pantry assist. “I’ve been meaning get it done for a couple of months,” she said. “It’s very hard for me to get out and about and the way that things have been I just go to about four different places and I don’t travel around too much. (When it gets hard) one of the things you forget about is your hair.“ I used to trim mine myself, but I have arthritis and I can’t lift my arm up to cut it anymore so it’s just been left. But it will be looking good after Stacey’s done with it!”
Lenny said Stacey was the most important person he’d come to see when he arrived at outreach. “I didn’t have a haircut for a whole year last year because it’s expensive and I’ve got bills to pay,” he said.
It was the pantry assist program that initially brought Rita to the Rosies van, but she also had her hair done. “I usually cut it myself because I had a perm but I am happy with the way that Stacey cuts my hair,” she said. Rita said she also enjoyed the community feel of outreach. “I’m happy to keep coming back, the people are very friendly and the social interaction is good.”
It is through partnering with organisations like Hair Aid that we can connect our patrons with additional services that can improve their self-esteem, health, and wellbeing.
By Kate Schmidt
When Brent started volunteering with Rosies in 2018 he had no idea how much his girls Mackenzie and Sierra would want to get involved.
“I’m a school teacher and went along with the senior students to an outreach down the Gold Coast and had a really wonderful experience, and I wanted to keep giving back so I started volunteering with the Brisbane branch”
Brent and his daughters were familiar with Rosies and had even stopped to chat to volunteers and patrons while admiring Christmas light displays in their local community. Once Mackenzie learned that her father was going to volunteer with Rosies regularly she too wanted to be involved and connect with patrons on outreach. However, due to her age (Mackenzie is 10 and Sierra just 7), she couldn’t attend outreach so she took it upon herself to organise donation drives for Rosies.
Mackenzie, a student at a local Brisbane primary school approached the principal with her idea and started hosting regular donation drives for toiletries and noodles. Mackenzie and Sierra then collect all of the items and present them to our Brisbane branch for use on outreach.
Brent said “The girls, particularly Mackenzie, are very socially minded they just want to help people in any way that they can. These girls are going to change the world they live in”
Mackenzie has also found other ways to spread the mission of Rosies to others until she’s old enough to formally volunteer her time. She regularly visits an elderly resident in her neighbourhood for morning tea and a chat.
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St Andrew’s Catholic College, Redlynch, and St Ursula’s College, Toowoomba are schools on a mission!
Recently, each school raised an incredible amount – in excess of $4,000 each – to support Rosies outreach services in their local areas, with Cairns, Toowoomba, and Ipswich branches receiving funds.
On Friday August 1, over 50 St Ursula’s students from years 10, 11 and 12 were sponsored to brave the cold for a 12 hour sleepout in Merici Courtyard. Now in its third year, the event has been enthusiastically supported by the girls – and they have become muhc more appreciative of the comfort and warmth of their own beds and homes as a result!
St Andrew’s Year 12 students held their own sleepout during Catholic Education Week on August 1, while Year 11 students ran a blanket drive. The younger students got in on the act too by putting together hygiene packs!
Both schools are participants in the Rosies Student Engagement Program, with students volunteering year round with people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in their local areas. Students also provide material support to Rosies patrons in the form of emergency relief: food and hygiene packs.
Rosies would like to thank St Andrew’s and St Ursula’s for their continued generous support.
Local Cairns GP Dr Sharmila Biswas and Australian Medical Association Queensland Foundation have raised an incredible $57,000 through their annual tax appeal to help secure the future of Rosies’ Cairns branch.
The current Cairns vehicle is the oldest in the Rosies fleet and no longer serviceable.
Funds raised will provide a brand new van with a custom designed and fitted servery tailored to the needs of the Cairns branch.
Homelessness rates in Queensland’s far North are double of the rest of the State, and in response increasing demand the Cairns branch last year expanded to a third night of street outreach each week.
A new van will ensure the branch will be in a position to expand services further if needed.
Rosies CEO Troy Bailey said the generosity of Queensland’s medical community is overwhelming.
‘The members of the AMA – they’re already working to help some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people out there,’ he said.
‘Then to donate they way they have to support our work here at Rosies – I can only say thank you. It’s really incredible.’
Our Spring newsletter is out – to download a copy, .
Rosies – Friends on the Street has received both personal and Parliamentary support in Ipswich thanks to local MP Ian Berry.
When Caring for our Community grant beneficiaries were announced on May 13, Rosies Ipswich Branch was amongst the community organisations sharing in more than $6000 in funding with a grant for $600 to support local operations.
Member for Ipswich Ian Berry MP nominated Rosies for the grant in recognition of the assistance the organisation gives to the Ipswich community by providing safe spaces for people to build community and connect with essential services.
He then decided to offer his personal support through a further donation of $400 to assist in the purchase of equipment and ongoing costs.
‘As the local member for Ipswich, I have given to Rosies a commitment to visit the street van regularly. This is what Rosies deserves as I know the crucial role it plays in our community. Rosies offers a helping hand to our most vulnerable, provides a meeting point and gives people a sense of friendship,’ said Mr Berry.
‘People like Michael Byrnes in Ipswich work enormously hard to keep Rosies going on a meagre funding model. It was therefore my absolute pleasure to make an additional donation of $400 to this organisation beyond the $600 they have already received from the Queensland Government’s Caring for our Community grants program.’
Ipswich Branch Coordinator Michael Byrnes said Mr Berry’s donation was a real boost to the local branch.
‘It’s that kind of support that keeps our volunteers out on the streets with the people who need it. So many of our patrons are kids – we have a volunteer on each team who spends their whole shift just making Milo for the kids and making sure they’re warm,’ he said.
‘We really appreciate Ian’s support – it means a lot to our volunteers that he actually comes to the van regularly and spends time with our patrons. He doesn’t just pop in and say “hi”, he actually spends an hour or two having meaningful conversations and helping out at the van.’
If you would like to help support Rosies operations in Ipswich, click here to donate:
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