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!

Rosies Sunshine Coast had a fantastic Christmas on the Street with in excess of 80 patrons and lots of Rosies red shirts celebrating together. Club Kawana continues their amazing support of providing and serving roast meats, vegies, plum pudding and custard. Our friends on the street were delighted with the array of tables laden with grocery items, ladies handbags full of personal items, hygiene packs, toys, cute stuffed animals, clothes and shoes. We were pleased to have ‘The Tribute to John’ family join us again to hand out noodle boxes full of selections of home-made sweets. Felicity Park was full of ambience with trees lit up with fairy lights and our own Chrissy decorations.

Meanwhile on the Gold Coast, we are blessed to welcome Tony from Goodfellaz Barbershop at Benowa Village for joining us on outreach in Surfers Paradise. Tony kindly offers his barber talent to those less fortunate. He spoke to them all with such respect, introducing himself and asking the patron their name. We all watched transformations before our eyes, like Geoff. Geoff just glowed afterwards.Tony will generously provide this service on the last Friday of each month. Thank you Tony!

Last but not least, Rosies Wynnum Manly received some presents from Bunnings Manly West. The local store offered us more storage boxes and a huge esky to the Rosies branch. Boxes will help us organise our stock, while we will use the esky for our monthly BBQ at St Peter’s Church for our friends on the street.This morning we had a visit from the local Commonwealth Bank Manly West at our outreach in Wynnum. The branch made a donation to support our local outreach.

Christmas is still in the air…

Rosies is blessed to have such a wonderful diversity of volunteers. Bachar and Emil, Christian Syrian refugees  arrived in Toowoomba less than a year ago. They happily joined Rosies to make a difference in their adoptive country. Bachar and Emil come to outreach every Friday to spend time with our friends on the street. It is a great joy having them among us in Toowoomba. On another note the branch farewells one of its founding members, Annette.  Annette and her husband David are relocating to where the fish are biting. We will miss them.

Meanwhile, Rosies Ipswich branch held their volunteer Recognition Ceremony. Awards were presented by Mark from the Board of Rosies. The team welcomed  Costa Georgiadis from gardening Australia on outreach. Costa made himself available to all. Many of our friends on the street asked him questions and took photos with him. Costa was quite impressed with how the Rosies team interacted with not only himself as a guest but also the patrons. He shook everybody’s hand before leaving.

There were a few social events across the branches in the last few days. On the Gold Coast, the Rotary Carousel Broadbeach invited our coordinator, Kathleen for a talk. Rotary made a donation to the branch for the purchase of lights and folding benches at the new outreach venue on Hamilton Avenue, Southport. In Wynnum Manly the Rosies team met with our friends at Wellington Manor. The retirement village has been supportive of the local branch from the beginning.  On the Sunshine Coast Rosies Coordinator, Carolyn was invited to present the work of Rosies within the community at the Glasshouse Country VIEW Club.

Jamey-Lee offering her time and talents at the Rosies drop-in centre

Jamey-Lee is a hairdresser and a generous soul. She gives her time and talent to our many friends on the street on the Gold Coast. She comes to our Drop In Centre with all her gear on the second Thursday of every month and offers free haircuts to our delighted patrons. Her impact is simply amazing! Plus, it offers yet another opportunity to engage with our friends through conversations. People like to share their stories and point of views on various topics while their getting their hair cut. For Jamey-Lee it is an eye-opening experience. She is very much appreciated by the Rosies family.

Some students and teachers joined our outreaches as part of our Student Engagement Program. As such a group of students from Iona College in Wynnum visited our branch in Cairns and took part inthe local outreach with their teachers despite it being school holidays. They could have been involved in some more fun activities over this period, but instead they chose to be present with Rosies in the midst of our friends on the street in Cairns.

In Brisbane our coordinator Sarah was invited to morning tea at the Delamore Retirement Community. Sarah explained what Rosies was all about to the residents who were thrilled to have a look at the van. Our coordinator also broke up a few stereotypes about homelessness. Earlier, residents held a craft stall and raised some funds to support Rosies and our many friends on the street. Thank you all so much for your kindness and generosity.

Tony on his graduation day

We are very grateful Tony invited us to his graduation after his successful completion of 6 months of rehabilitation at Logan House. Tony lived with his addiction to alcohol and drugs for thirty five years. From Rosies he met people who cared. He accepted the hand offered to him and although he admits there is still a rough road ahead, he is forever grateful for the friendship and kindness received from Rosies.

Brisbane coordinator Sarah at the Delamore Retirement Community

On the Gold Coast Jaimey-Lee offers her time and talent as a hairdresser to groom our patrons on the second Thursday of the month at the Rosies drop in centre.

In Brisbane our coordinator Sarah was invited for morning tea at the Delamore Retirement Community. Residents were thrilled to have a look at our Rosies van. All were eager to find out more about what we do and who we serve.  Residents held a craft stall and raised some funds to support Rosies and our many friends on the street.

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Gayndah held a ‘Wheel for Rosies‘ Day to support Rosies and our many friends on the street. Students were invited to bring their bikes, scooters or skates to school, along with a gold coin donation. They rode and raced in the sport centre at lunchtime.

Meanwhile, John Paul College Middle School students hosted a fun run and sausage sizzle fundraiser for Rosies. The entire school also enjoyed a free dress day with money also donated to Rosies.