Rosies was the charity of choice at the Viva Festival in Surfers Paradise on Sunday, 10 July. Thanks Elvis and the Gospel Choir for an extremely uplifting morning. Thank you to everyone who donated, we raised over $1,000.This amount will keep one of our Rosies’ street outreach vans running for a month. Thank you also to the Surfers Paradise Alliance for nominating Rosies as a charity of choice for your wonderful events.
Find out more about our branches.
It has been a ritual for the last 29 years. Rosies is the longest serving community organisation at the schoolies safety program. We collaborate with State Government and Gold Coast City Council’s comprehensive safety and support program to make Schoolies Week as safe as possible. About 50 Rosies volunteers have signed up to a renamed Schoolies Rest & Recharge Zone outreach. Our teams will be present each night until midnight over the week long celebration (19-25 November). Rosies will provide free mobile water supply while interacting and reassuring teenagers. Our volunteers are trained to respond to offer support, information and refer to other services if need be. The Rest and Recharge Zone is a place where teenagers can sit, relax, and recharge.
Rosies Rest & Recharge Schoolies outreach at Gold Coast Schoolies Week 19-25 Nov
Ben Begg from St Andrew’s Lutheran College on the Gold Coast made an amazing plea to support Rosies and our many friends. The 17 year old had previously taken part in our Student Engagement Program on the Gold Coast with his college.
“Last year I went to Southport on a Friday night as a volunteer with my teacher Graeme Schache and Rosies. I saw that what we did, although it seems at first a small and simple thing, had a very big impact on the homeless community and I thought there might be a way to support this.”
The highly motivated student seized the opportunity to improve the well-being of the local homeless population as a member of the Leo’s Club, a school organisation related to Lions Club. Ben pledged to make a difference and successfully obtained a $5,000 grant in support of Rosies and our many friends on the street. The money was allocated to purchase backpack beds and a fridge for our Southport drop in centre.
“I wouldn’t say I’m selfless, I’m just grateful to have a chance like this to help out and hopefully make someone’s life just that little bit better.”
To all students who take part in the Rosies’ Student Engagement Program, Ben advises to appreciate the difference each and all of them make just by being present.
“Just have fun with it, the Rosies members are very experienced and will help you if you feel a bit out of your depth. It’s a great time and you have pretty entertaining conversations with a lot of different people. You’d be amazed at how much a little visit with some good food and a chat can help.”
A big thank you to Cross Promotions International for recently leading a food drive to support our Gold Coast branch as supplies were extremely low. Thank you so much to every single one of you in the local Gold Coast community for your support. Friends and strangers alike walked through the doors of our Southport Drop-in centre to provide tinned goods and hygiene products.
Local students joined the effort by conducting their very own fundraiser events. You made a difference.
Our branch coordinator, Wendy Coe, will be a guest panelist at the Vinnies CEO Sleepout. Wendy’s wealth of knowledge about issues affecting homelessness is highly regarded.
Our Rosies ‘angels’ have been devoutly offering refreshments, snacks, and friendship at our Southport Magistrates Court Outreach for nearly 25 years.
Rosies volunteers provide comfort and smiles, and a haven in a sometimes tense environment. Smiles can unexpectedly be seen on faces of those visiting what is known as the ‘tea and sympathy room’ located on the second floor of the building.
Everyone is welcome to join and share a cuppa, bite to eat, and a chat with our volunteers. In the words of one of our longest serving volunteer ‘angels’….
‘We meet plaintiffs and defendants and witness, families, and friends, lawyers and barristers, court staff and security officers. Everyone is equal. all can sit next to to each other sharing the simple joy of a conversation while enjoying sweets and savouries. People walk in and share their stories. They feel relieved to talk through what they are going through whether it is a win, a loss, or an ongoing dispute. The room is like a little gem shining from smiles and laughs. Worries are not permitted and compassion is shared. It does not seem to be much. Yet, it makes a world of a difference.’
Rosies is pleased to confirm, thanks to the support and goodwill of all involved, that our angels recently relocated to a new area within the Southport Magistrates Court to continue their wonderful work.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our Beenleigh Court Angels for all their wonderful work
Over 95% of Rosies work, including this court outreach, is funded through kind donations from our local community. Find out how you can get involved.
Dr Graham Wright initiated an altruisitc initiative with General Practice Gold Coast (GPGC) to donate 40 backpack beds to Rosies and our friends on the street. Our General Manager, Andrew O’Brien, and Gold Coast Coordinator Wendy Coe, met with Dr Wright at the Gold Coast GP Super Clinic in Oxenford. We thank you so very much. Rosies would also like to thanks the Gold Coast Primary Health Network (GCPHN).
It is estimated that over 4,000 people are homeless in the Gold Coast region. What our friends and Rosies need varies, often depending on the season. Find out more or donate now.
We make assumptions based on our own knowledge. Yet, if we take the time to listen to people with our heart we can appreciate them for who they truly are. All of us are gifted, but our individual talents are not always obvious; most treasures are hidden. God’s creation is diverse and unique, which makes it beautiful and inspiring rather than monotone and dull. God values us for who we are and we are invited to imitate Him. We are encouraged to value each other for our uniqueness. Let us appreciate the diversity God put in His creation and go beyond our presumptions to discover who a person really is through understanding and charity.
Fr John David
Rosies’ Chaplain
Brisbane
Rosies has temporarily relocated our Friday and Saturday night outreaches to the Cathedral of St Stephen.Brisbane City Council has encouraged street van services to be located in off-street premises. The Archbishop of Brisbane has kindly agreed to trial our Outreach for eight weeks.
Look out for further updates.
Cairns
The new street outreach van was blessed by the Bishop of Cairns the Most Reverend James Foley. Thanks AMA. Services have commenced Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.
Gold Coast
The Rosies Gold Coast branch has started a new outreach in Nerang. The van is at to Bischoff Pioneer Park on Wednesdays from 7.30pm – 9.00pm.
Toowoomba
Jon Martlew, our Toowoomba Branch Coordinator, went homeless for a week during the Homelessness Prevention Week. Our Patron, Leneen Forde, and Chair, John Scoble, took part in launching Jon’s sleepout at the Homlessness Prevention Week commencement exhibition. During the week Jon slept rough, hung out with our friends on the street, joined our outreaches and had a cuppa to raised funds for Rosies. Well done Jon!
We all understand the value of friends in our lives. One of the many privileges I have is to share experiences of friendship with many amazing young students involved in our Schools Engagement Program.
The vitality and warmth of these young people continues to put a spring in the step of our volunteers and patrons.
Unfortunately some young people in our communities are struggling to find hope and therefore it is important we continue to offer experiences of friendship to them. The commitment of our Rosies volunteers to turn up at each Outreach is fundamental to building relationships and hope. Your support makes a difference.
Andrew O’Brien,
General Manager
28 February 2016
Rosies is the proud charity partner for the SkyPoint Sea to Sky Q1 stair challenge. By getting together with a friend or two and taking on Australia’s biggest building you can make a difference by supporting our Friends on the street.
So come on, bring your friends and get ready to face your highest urban challenge in Australia!
The cause and the view from the top of the observation level at SkyPoint are worth it.
