Ipswich branch received huge support from the local community this Winter! The Catalyst Church Women’s group collected toiletry items for our Ipswich Branch. Members of the Ipswich Catholic Community donated much needed supplies of cordial, biscuits and noodles. Meanwhile, Chalk Electrical held their Winter Warmer promotion to support Rosies and our many friends on the street. Younger groups helped out as well with students from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Social Justice Group raising funds and supplies to support the branch and make a difference. Students at Bremer State High School did their bit as well, donating toiletries and other goods. An excellent demonstration by everyone of what ‘community’ really means. Well done!
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.
Rosies recently worked with the local council to find an alternative venue for our outreach to offer an efficient service to our friends on the street whilst being mindful of local businesses that had expressed concerns over the influx of people in the popular tourist area. All parties agreed on a new location that will satisfy everyone. As a consequence, the Rosies van has now moved to Council Park on Draper Street, Cairns.
St Benedict’s College in Burpengary showed wonderful interest in joining our Student Engagement Program. Helen, our Coordinator in Caboolture, recently made a presentation to the school. She was astonished by the response and motivation of the students and staff members.
We received a donation of blankets from a Rosies friend called Julie for winter. It was Julie’s birthday and her sister asked her what she would like. Julie replied that she didn’t need anything, but perhaps her sister could buy some blankets for the homeless and Julie would donate these to Rosies. This was a generous act; but what makes it remarkable is that Julie is a full time carer for her quadriplegic husband. To say that she “didn’t need anything” is extraordinarily selfless. Thank you, Julie.
We have some wonderful supporters at Rosies and we thank you all for your support. Our supporters are wonderful – thank you. We still have urgent need of some other supplies for our many friends on the street.
Street outreach
Wednesday – Day time
Hugh Muntz Park, Reisers Rd, Beeleigh
Wednesday: 7.00am – 9.00am
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Wednesday & Saturday
Beenleigh Train Station
Wednesday: 7.00pm – 9.00pm Saturday: 6.00pm-8.00pm (NEW TIME)
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Courts – (Temporarily Suspended)
Monday mornings
Childrens’ & Family Courts, Beenleigh
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The official launch was held on Friday, August 5. It was an occasion to celebrate the outstanding effort of our Bayside community to help get these outreach services up and running to support this local need. It was also an opportunity to thank our local partners. Sunstate Cement and their suppliers for providing seed funding. The Anglican Parish of St Paul’s in Manly for our outreach room. Don Barton, long term supporter who generously donated a new van. Iona College community raised funds for us to fit out and brand the van. Bartons Motor Group (no relation) provided good services and a great deal. Bruce, one of the Wynnum Manly branch coordinators said he is really proud of the local community and has received positive feedback from the volunteers who have enjoyed the first outreach services held in late July.
Rosies has joined “Family Fridays” at the Mareeba Community church on Friday evenings. On the first night there were about seventy five children and adults in attendance. Rosies held a sausage cook up as an initial opening night event. Future participation will see Rosies there with cuppas of milo, tea or coffee and food as this is an integral part of socializing and easiest way to offer friendship. The venture is a combined effort to take something into the community.
Atherton is continuing to provide an outreach service on the first and third Saturday of each month. The Atherton branch meets with our friends on the street in Main Street, Atherton again providing friendship and a sense of belonging along with a cuppa and a chat
At the recent World Youth Day in Krakow the Pope addressed young people asking them to become the ‘hope for the future’. He challenged them in two ways. Firstly, he asked them to engage with their elders by listening to their real or mythical stories. Parents and other older people have great wisdom to share. All we need is to spend time listening, and asking. The Pope then encouraged them to have the courage to make a difference in the world by getting actively involved in our society.
Let us reflect on our mission as we prepare for Schoolies. Rosies offers a presence, and gives an ear to our friends on the street. We listen with an open heart. Whether it is at Schoolies, on the street, in courts, or detention centre we engage with them. The people we meet have the courage to be who they are and brave enough to share their stories with us. Courage is also what it takes to commit. Our volunteers are committed to go out regularly and meet with our many friends on the street regardless of the temperature or the weather. Rosies has been committed to come and offer our presence to the many teenagers as part of the Safety Program at the Gold Coast Schoolies week for nearly thirty years. Persistence and patience are wonderful virtues, I witness on outreach.
Fr John David OMI
Rosies Chaplain
Lenesha from Marymount College on the Gold Coast shared with us her experience with Rosies as part of our Student Engagement Program.
While initially reluctant, Lenesha agreed to get invovled with Rosies as part of her social program. She joined our team at the Rosies’ drop in centre in Southport. Her experience with us broke a few prejudices…
“The gratefulness and kindness that our friends gave us was so incredible, I was really moved by how they all look after each other and how they put others before themsleves. They taught me that it doesn’t matter how rich or poor you are, appreciating what you have is more than enough. Their kindness and happiness is beyond words. I met so many lovely people who were all so kind and bubbly, and it really moved me, because even though they don’t have as much as others, they still find something to be thankful for.
Rosies was an incredible life changing, inspiring, eye opening experience that has taught me so many things in so many different ways and I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to give it a go.”
Find out more about our Student and Engagement Program.
