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TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR SCHOOL LENDS A HAND TO ROSIES

Interviews and photos available: WEDNESDAY, 16 May 2018, 5:15pm | Harlaxton Park, Cnr Gleeson and Doyle Sts
(vision also available from 4-4:30pm at Neil St entrance of St Saviours College packing the food items)

With the cold winter blast hitting Toowoomba on the weekend, spare a thought for the homeless, or those less fortunate.

Rosies Friends on the Street offer food, hot drinks and friendship to around 170 people at their four outreaches in Toowoomba every week.

Fay Stein from Rosies Toowoomba said patron attendance at local branch outreaches topped 8,500 people in 2017.

75 smiling Rosies volunteers share friendship and create belonging with the homeless, marginalised and lonely of Toowoomba.

This Wednesday night, Toowoomba Grammar School (TGS) is donating five dozen sausages, five dozen strips of bacon, bread rolls, onion and sauce, along with apples, bananas and pears to give Rosies’ patrons a boost as we head into the colder months.

A number of TGS students have volunteered to help prepare, cook and serve the meals, as well as spend some time with the clients.

This is not the first time that TGS has supported Rosies; they organise four BBQs every year for their ‘Friends on the Street’.

The students enjoy giving back to the community and feel good that their small gesture makes such a difference to the lives of these people in need.

And Rosies appreciates the support from TGS.

“While Rosies is providing a warming coffee, milo, or cuppa soup, wonderful collaborators like TGS students extend the hospitality to a great BBQ and other goodies,” said Andrew O’Brien, Rosies General Manager.

“Their youthful enthusiasm and genuine interest adds wonderfully to the sense of community.”

Rosies is expecting a tough winter, with more people in need than ever before and are they’re calling on support and donations from the local community.

“Many of Rosies patrons have personal needs such as hygiene supplies and bedding,” said Mr O’Brien.

“We’d also love donations of 1kg tins of coffee and milo, cordial, sugar, biscuits, cup-a-soups and noodles.”

You can also donate funds to supply a backpack bed which are perfectly designed for those sleeping rough or couch surfing.

Rosies would also like to extend its service to another location on a Tuesday night, but need to expand their volunteer base to at least 100.

If you would like to make up those number, register online here.

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Robyn’s Rosies devotion

By Mark Bowling

Baton leg dedicated to the 1200 volunteers who work for street charity

WHEN Surfers Paradise parishioner and community worker Robyn Hunt held the Queen’s baton aloft on one of the final stretches into the Gold Coast, she did it for the charity she loves.

“I carried the torch for the 1200 volunteers who work for Rosies,” Mrs Hunt said, reminiscing on the great Commonwealth Games moment, as she attended Mass as sacristan at Stella Maris Church, Broadbeach, last week. For the past nine years, Mrs Hunt has served on the executive committee of Rosies – Friends on the Street, and is a tireless campaigner for the outreach to the homeless and those vulnerable on the streets, at the courts, prisons and youth detention centres. “I think lots of times in our world we need to look around us and see there are a lot of people in need,” Mrs Hunt said.

“(About) 5.6 million Australians, that is one in four of us, are lonely almost all of the time or on a regular basis.

“Initially what motivates me are the Gospels – Jesus asking us to reach out to those in need, and particularly Matthew 25 where it is written ‘For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me …’

“And that’s what Rosie’s does. We are there to help those in need – particularly the lonely, the abandoned and the marginalised.” Behind the glitz of the Gold Coast, especially in the midst of the Commonwealth Games, Mrs Hunt admitted there was a great need for Rosies services. High rents and a lack of secure employment have led to a downward spiral for many struggling individuals and families.

“What we are is a place where people can come, (and) feel safe and feel part of the community and have a sense of belonging,” Mrs Hunt said.

“People need to be given back their dignity.

“I often have the homeless say to me ‘I can go anywhere and get a feed, but to have someone sit with me, look me in the eye, sit with me and talk to me – that is a different thing’.

“I think it is an extremely important part of our charity work.” Rosies is a comparatively small charity that relies on donations from corporations, businesses, schools, religious communities and individuals to fund its operations.

It has been outreaching since 1987 – celebrating 30 years last year – and has more than 280 volunteers in the Gold Coast part of the army of volunteers throughout Queensland. As well as committing to voluntary welfare and support work, Mrs Hunt said there was a lot of community-building needed to be done.

“I would love to see some entrepreneur come forward to build short-term accommodation where people could stay the night, (and) have a place to keep their belongings so they don’t have to take them out on the streets with them,” she said.

Credit from the The Catholic Leader –15 Apr. 2018

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Brother inspires Jake’s charity run

 

“Following in his brother’s footsteps, 16 year-old Jake Priestly has stepped up to  take on the 15th annual Great Wheelbarrow Race as a solo competitor. In 2015, Jake’s brother Josh won the male solo category and it was his determination that inspired his younger brother, Jake to take on the challenge. The Great Wheelbarrow Race will take teams from Chillagoe to Mareeba in a three-day, 140km endurance event from May 18-20. [May 18 | May 19 | May 20]

‘Watching Josh do the race solo three years ago has motivated me to do the same thing and give it a go’, Jake said/ ‘It’s all for charity, so why not.’

The St Stephen’s Catholic College student will compete in this year’s event to raise money for Rosies, a local charity which reaches out to those less fortunate in the community.

‘Rosies reaches out to those most in need, those people who are lonely, abandoned, and marginalised within our communities.'”

[maxbutton id=”1″ url=”https://www.mycause.com.au/page/172319/running-for-rosies” text=”Support Jake” ]

  

Credit from the The Cairns Post–2 Apr. 2018

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Congratulations Robyn Hunt!

Congratulations to Robyn, Rosies Team Leader and Board member for taking part in the Queen’s Baton Relay !

Robyn has been involved with the marginalised all her life. She joined Rosies as a volunteer in 2005 and has continued to be involved on the Street outreach in Surfers Paradise as Team Leader. She was a Volunteer Trainer a the Gold Coast for seven years. Robyn was appointed to the Board of Rosies in 2009 and took on the role of Treasurer in 2011.


Robyn Hunt is carrying the baton on behalf of 1200 Rosies – Friends On The Street volunteers as baton bearer number 56.

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Temporary day drop-in centres on the Gold Coast during the Commonwealth Games

Due to logistical issues all Rosies Gold Coast Services will be closed from March 31 to April 16. We will reopen on Tuesday April 17.

In the meantime Rosies volunteers are offering their services to the  three temporary day time drop-in centres available on the Gold Coast.

Are you homeless or at risk of homelessness? These centres will provide a safe space for you to relax and enjoy a meal, shower and toilets, as well as free access to a range of support services. To find these centre locations visit 7CareConnect.com If you require assistance outside these hours, contact the Homeless Hotline – 1800 474 753

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Running for Rosies – 140 kms with a wheelbarrow

Back in 2015 Joshua selflessly pushed himself to the limits to help people who are homeless in his hometown of Mareeba. He spent three days pushing a wheelbarrow 140km to help raise funds for the Rosies Mareeba branch. This year his ‘little’ brother Jake takes on the challenge with the objective to help the local Rosies branch by beating Josh’s time and target.

Jake is a student at St. Stephen’s Catholic College in Mareeba and he is raising awareness and funds for Rosies in Mareeba.

Day 1: Chillagoe – Almaden 35 kms

Day 2: Almaden – Dimbulah 65 kms

Day 3: Dimbulah – Mareeba 44 kms

 

 

 

 

 

HOW CAN I CONTRIBUTE?

Firstly, all funds raised go directly to Rosies, a charity associated with the Catholic church, Mareeba. The entry fee and any other expenses incurred are paid by the runner from his part-time job at Piagnos Newsagency, a “Rosies Runner” supporter. If it was easy, everyone would do it. 140 kms.

[maxbutton id=”1″ url=”https://www.mycause.com.au/page/172319/running-for-rosies” ]

About The Great Wheelbarrow Race

Late in the 1800’s when work was scarce and transportation was limited, miners often used to travel about the region using a wheelbarrow to carry all of their possessions. In 2004, as a tribute to these early pioneers and to honour their amazing trail-blazing feats, the road between Mareeba and Chillagoe was named the Wheelbarrow Way.  Today, the Wheelbarrow Way traverses this same country and follows a similar path close to the railway line which was originally privately owned but has since been incorporated into the state rail system. The line was originally used to ship material from the Chillagoe smelter to Cairns via Mareeba.

 

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It’s a long way to the top…

THANK YOU to all our wonderful volunteers involved in yesterday’s SkyPoint Sea to Sky Q1 Stair Challenge on the Gold Coast. Whether you climbed, cheered, guided participants, or looked after registrations, THANK YOU!

 

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Engaging with youth

Yalari Students joined us on outreach in Beenleigh

Engaging with youth is an essential part of Rosies mission. On Shrove Tuesday, four of our younger volunteers served morning tea to over 600 students from schools in the Archdiocese of Brisbane. Some of these young students will become volunteers in years to come having experienced the humble friendship of Rosies.

Meanwhile on the Gold Coast, a group of international students made a presentation about Rosies and won a school competition. They kindly donated their prize to Rosies.

In Beenleigh the team welcomed Yalari students to their outreach. Their presence shone on our patrons and team members alike. Many were amazed by the well mannered students and really enjoyed interacting with them.
Rosies Cairns had a great outreach with the return of students from Trinity Anglican School, Cairns. Students and volunteers alike were all smiles and eager to get out to meet our friends on the street.
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Reaching new heights!

Rosies volunteer and teacher in Brisbane, Andrew reached some new heights. He climbed Mt Kilimanjaro for Rosies. He just arrived back from Tanzania and is getting ready for school. He will have lots of stories to share with his students about conquering the highest summit in Africa bringing Rosies with him to the top at – 40C. Congratulations Andrew and thank you for all you do at Rosies for our friends on the street! There is another summit to conquer a lot closer to us on the Gold Coast, if you are up to the challenge…

Students from St Joseph’s College in Toowoomba made these awesome teddy bears out of our old Rosies jumpers for us to hand them out on the street and keep a couple of them to supervise the team. Meanwhile, the branch visited Kialla Pure Foods, which nominated Rosies as charity of choice. Our Team Leader and Head Miller at Kialla Pure Foods, Jack cooked a monthly BBQ for his work mates and took our Coordinators on an amazing tour of the mill facilities. The team spoke about the work of Rosies while displaying our local van and BBQ trailer. Thank you to everyone at Kialla Pure Foods for supporting Rosies and our friends on the street!

 

 

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Congratulations Lisa!

Rosies Beenleigh coordinator, Lisa share with us her day.

“What an exciting Australia Day I had. I attended the City of Logan Citizenship Ceremony and Australia Day Awards as I was nominated and judged to be part of the celebration for the 2018 Citizen of the Year for my work with ROSIES FRIENDS ON THE STREET, youth diabetes and mental health.

It was an honour to stand on the stage alongside some amazing people who give their time to do what they love. Huge congratulations go to Aunty Peggy who won and who has worked tirelessly with Education Queensland for many years as well as working with women and children who are victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault.

The nomination for this Award is not about me but about community and friendship both

on and off the street! It’s about the volunteers who make Rosies happen each and every Thursday and Saturday, the Logan businesses who donate food (Logan Village Family Favourites Bakery, Dine with Joy, bakeries in Beenleigh and Marsden), the Sikh family who make sandwiches and delivers fruit to outreaches, Pat who sews our hygiene packs and fills them with generous donations from our community, Windaroo Valley High and a teacher named Karen Gardyne who organises student donations of all of our long life milk, as well as the Beenleigh Region Uniting Church who took us in when we found ourselves homeless! My volunteer role is really easy and it’s exciting to be coordinating our Rosies family in Beenleigh.

Thanks to everyone for your congratulations and for working with me to keep on giving!”

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