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Logan Branch – A community achievement

Rosies’ Logan Branch has been running for over ten years and is a model of community integration. The branch has built strong relationship with a number of key stakeholders. The local police regularly visit the outreach, which involves a real mix of volunteers, students from the local schools, refuges, other religious organisations, and many other friends on the street. It is particularly exciting when the Mounted Police drop by with Hercules.

If you have taken part in the Logan outreach over the past 10 years, we would love to hear from you. Drop us a line or send us a photo for possible use. Make sure you fill in a consent form and email it with your photo to [email protected]

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Ipswich Branch – Rosies in a Mater of life and friendship

Our fantastic Ipswich volunteers – Michelle, Kathryn, Julia, and Ashley – generously gave up their Sunday to participate in the official opening of the Mater Hospital at Springfield Central. Rosies was invited by local radio station River 94.9 to help whilst they broadcasted live onsite. River 94.9 kindly supplied several loaves of bread for the 200 plus sausages the Rosies team cooked on theday – starting at the depot at 8am and finished by mid afternoon. Well done! Thanks also to River 94.9 for getting the message out to the local Ipswich community about Rosies. You all make a difference!

Find our more about our Ipswich Branch or get involved.

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Gold Coast Branch – General Practice gets practical

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.

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Cairns Branch – Cairns Branch gets a room!

Rosies is delighted to announce the acquisition of a new outreach room thanks to the Catholic Diocese of Cairns and Centacare. The new room is significantly more spacious for our Cairns Branch team meetings and increases our capacity to store more items for our many friends on the street than the previous shed.

Rosies would also like to thank the Queensland Government’s Community Benefit Fund for providing a grant that has enabled us to refurbish our new premises.

Find out how you can get involved.

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Caboolture Branch – The spirit of Rosies

A group of students at St Columban’s College decided on their own merit to organise a BBQ to raise awareness about homelessness. The boys were inspired and wanted to get involved after learning about Rosies and its mission at school. One of the students, Liam who led the operation mentioned that there were challenges. “We suffered from a few challenges whilst undertaking our fundraising initiative. It rained heavily on the day of the fundraiser. All the parents were however very supportive and proud of our fundraising initiative. Our school St Columban’s was equally supportive supplying us with the BBQ and some cooking utensils”, explained Liam.

The boys enjoyed their experience and felt personal satisfaction from knowing that they have, in some way, contributed to supporting Rosies and made a difference to our many friends on the street.

This is the true spirit of having a cuppa for Rosies. Find out more about how you can too.

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Brisbane Branch – Welcome to our new Branch coordinator!

Rosies would like to welcome Leigh Cusack as our new Brisbane Branch coordinator. The role has been vacant for much of this year and with plenty of work in organising our new outreach location, reworking our supply arrangements as well as assisting Team Leaders, Leigh is off and running. Brisbane is as sleeping giant and we look forward to a wonderful Christmas with our patrons and new opportunities in 2016. Find out more about our Brisbane Branch and you can get involved.

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Message from our Chair

Rosies Chairman John ScobleChristmas is not looking very good to Jane, featured in our Summer newsletter. I’m glad I’m not in her shoes. I’m also glad that our Rosies volunteers are out most nights providing a little bit of community spirit and cheer to Jane and those like her. As my mother used to say often “There but for the grace of God go I”.

This festive season is also about New Year’s celebrations and often, new resolutions. Change, as they say, is one of the constants in life. As you may be aware, there are many changes happening within our society, including our social services and the not for profit sector. Whilst Rosies is not directly impacted by the changes to government programs and funding, we are being dramatically affected by some of the flow-on affects to our many friends.

Rosies Board and Senior Management recently held a one day Strategic Planning workshop. This planning has been informed by in-depth interviews and surveys with key stakeholders, including many of our active volunteers. More will follow. Rosies is alive and well, with lots of energy and enthusiasm for not only our current outreach, but for investigating additional ways of reaching those socially isolated members in the community. Our sub-committees are fine-tuning each of the key areas identified in our planning. We hope to share this with you, our broader Rosies family in the New Year.

In the meantime, may you all have a happy and holy Christmas.

John Scoble,
Rosies Board Chair

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Let’s open our hearts

fr johnWe 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

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Ipswich Softball gets to first base

Ipswich_softballThe young players at the Ipswich Softball Association raised funds for Rosies by having a cuppa and spending a night at the softball park. Our team leader, Ashley, met the players and talked them through Rosies’ support in the community. Education and awareness are an important part of prevention and support. Rosies is actively involved in a number of initiatives, such as this visit, to support young people. You can help too, have a cuppa this Spring.

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Rosies updates around the state – Spring 2015

 

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!

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