A time to renew our love for one another

fr johnDomestic and family violence is most unfortunately a pervasive community issue that can affect anyone regardless of their social, economic, or cultural group – it does not discriminate. It often consumes families from the inside. St Eugene de Mazenod – our Oblate of Mary Immaculate founder – is in fact the patron saint of families in need. Rosies is a Ministry of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
Originally part of the French nobility, St Eugene’s family fled France during the Revolution. Hit by financial distress and the instability of a refugee life the de Mazenod family was torn apart. As a result of his experience, St Eugene dedicated his life to those without the support of their families and especially the poorest of the poor.
The Oblates celebrate 200 years of St Eugene’s charism and daring this year. We invite you to celebrate too. Easter is also a time of renewal, a time of compassion and of understanding. We are invited at this time to reflect on our family lives. As Pope Francis asks us to ponder “In my home, do we yell, or do we speak with love and tenderness? This is a good way to recognise our love.”.

Fr John David
Rosies Chaplain

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Brisbane/Aspley Branch – more space

Our collaboration with the Sisters of Mercy has been in place for many years. Our outreach room is located in their very own building in Justice Place. The sisters are most kindly increasing our storage capacity by giving us access to an additional room. Our Rosies branch can now store more items for our many friends. Thank you.  In another news a big thank you to our Aspley team who make a difference with our BBQ outreach on the first Sunday of the month.

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#climb4rosies for your chance to win some amazing prizes

Introducing #climb4rosies competition. To celebrate being proud charity of choice for the Activ8change and SkyPoint’s Q1 Stair Challenge 2016 we have organised a photo competition on Rosies facebook page. Rosies invites you to be creative (yet decent!). Have fun and best of luck!  Here’s how to enter.

  1. Take a photo of yourselves with your mates wearing a red shirt on some stairs. Be inspired!
  2. Tag it #climb4rosies.
  3. Rosies may select and post your photo on our facebook page.
  4. Share our facebook post with your friends.
  5. The photo tagged #climb4rosies and posted on our Rosies facebook page with the most ‘likes’ will win some amazing prizes. Our first competition is a Personal Training Gift Pack from ASFIT Personal Training. Our second is a double pass to SkyPoint Climb – imagine standing on a platform, 279 meters above sea level!

    Go on, we dare you… take on #Q1stairchallenge – climb to support Rosies.

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Choice steps up for Q1 test

From the Gold Coast Bulletin

Choice steps up for Q1 testThe team from Gold Coast home builder Choice Homes are preparing to put themselves through the pain barrier at the SkyPoint Sea to Sky Q1 Stair Challenge next month. The company has partnered with the Q1 Stair Challenge to sponsor the event, in which entrants take on a gruelling 78-floor stair climb to the top of the iconic Surfers Paradise highrise. With more than 1500 entrants expected, the event aims to raise $100,000 for local charity Rosies – Friends on the Street. Funds raised will go to helping more than 2000 homeless people across the Gold Coast. The event on February 28 offers a range of team and individual categories for participants to run, walk or crawl their way to the
top. All those taking part are required to raise or pledge a minimum of $35 for Rosies. Choice Homes chief Troy Knight concedes it’s a serious challenge to take it on from sea level to SkyPoint but is thrilled to be supporting the event. “It’s fantastic to be able to promote fun and fitness on the Gold Coast while supporting such a worthwhile charity,” he said. Choice Homes has raised the stakes with several employees participating in the event.

Read more…

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Stairway to Heaven

ASFIT Misfits Running Club is rising up to the challenge to climb the stairway to heaven to support local charity Rosies. Rosies is proud charity partner for Active8Change’s SkyPoint Sea to Sky Q1 Stair Challenge on the Gold Coast for the second year running on Sunday, February 28.

The ASFIT club decided to climb the 1,331 steps of Q1 in loving memory of one of their members’ daughter, who unknown to her parents became homeless and then a supporter of Rosies.
“The loss of our friend’s daughter, and the heartbreak she is suffering has greatly affected us and we wanted to show our support by fundraising for Rosies”, said Ms Scott.
“We decided to join together as a team and register for this year’s Q1 Stair Challenge to help raise awareness and funds for this remarkable local charity”, she said.

Gold Coast branch coordinator, Wendy Coe is so proud for Rosies to receive such thoughtful support and recognition.
“Our aspiration is to provide unconditional acceptance and friendship to people who are marginilised within our community – especially those who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or simply lonely”, said Ms Coe.

Q1 is one of the most iconic buildings in the world and on February 28, 2016 you have the chance to take it on from sea level to SkyPoint! With a total of 77 floors this is a serious challenge but the view from the top of the observation level at SkyPoint will make all the hard work worth it.
Register and start fundraising for Rosies, or donate now.

Read more…

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Maybe homeless, not hopeless

Andrew O'Brien, General ManagerEncounters in my first year as General Manager make real the value of hospitality. Our 1,000 plus volunteers are wonderful friends as they create connections.

  • Hospitality creates connection
  • Connection builds friendship
  • Friendship allays fear
  • As fear recedes, hope emerges
  • With hope…

You can see from our Rosies family story that hope is emerging. We thank all those who have supported us in our hospitality this year and wish you all every blessing the God of hospitality bestows.

Andrew O’Brien,
General Manager

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Having new eyes

fr johnWe are invited over Christmas, more than ever, to spare a thought, a prayer, or even a visit to our neighbour who will spend Christmas alone. According to Marcel Proust ‘the real voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new landscape but having new eyes’. Let us adopt a different attitude towards our brothers and sisters. Let us look at them beyond the surface and misleading appearances. Christmas is a time of hope and compassion. Let us value our neighbours for who they truly are and we will find Jesus Christ dwelling in them.

I thank all of you who support Rosies. Whether you give time, money, or in-kind donations, you all make a difference. Rosies is a living community and you are part of it. I wish you all and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Fr John David
Rosies’ Chaplain

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New Brisbane coordinator launches caring Christmas appeal

Rosies Brisbane Branch, supporting those who are marginalised within our community – especially those who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or simply lonely, has launched its Christmas appeal today with a call out for caring volunteers and donations including presents.

Christmas can be one of the loneliest days of the year for many. Rosies will host a number of celebrations across various locations in Queensland. Christmas on the Street will be held on Monday, 21 December from 8.00pm at Emma Place, with another planned.

New Brisbane branch coordinator, Leigh Cusack, said Christmas is traditionally a time for family get-togethers and celebrations but it is also an opportunity to think about those less fortunate in our community. Leigh has been involved for Rosies as a volunteer and will use her broad range of professional experience and organisation skill to now coordinate branch activities.

Read more…

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Wynnum Branch – Search for our local Wynnum champion

Rosies is looking for a local champion to develop our new Wynnum Branch, which has significant needs. Wynnum is our spiritual home being the base for our Oblate Chaplain at Iona College. The Iona College community is a very generous host of our State Support Office. We need you!

Apply here.

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Schoolies Chill out with Rosies

An estimated 25,000 young people are taking part in this year’s Gold Coast Schoolies week. A big thank you to our dedicated volunteers who are manning Rosies’ ‘Recharge Zone’.

Our Rosies team of volunteers provide a staggering 8,000 cups of water each night as well as comfort to many participants. Hydration is especially important for the youngsters who are enjoying themselves after a long day in the sun.

Plus, many of the participants come from outside the Coast including from regional Queensland . For some it is their first time far from home in a crowded environment. Rosies; presence provides comfort for some overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the hyper-activity of the week.

Conversation with a responsible adult in a safe environment is often one of the greatest therapies.

Rosies is the longest serving community organisation supporting the Gold Coast Schoolies Community Response Program. The program is a response to the week-long celebration with the aim to make it as manageable and safe as possible for school leavers and the local community.

We thank all our volunteers who are taking part in the Safety Response, with a special mention to Vacen Taylor, our Schoolies coordinator, who also provided training for all our volunteers.

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