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To our friends

Andrew O'Brien, General ManagerWe 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

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Our friends feel the winter chill

There is a surge of homeless people in South East Queensland. Many of them are fleeing the colder temperature in NSW and Victoria.

Our teams will be out giving away blankets in Brisbane, Calboolture, Cairns, Gold Coast (in Southport and Surfers Paradise), Ipswich, Woodrige, Mareeba, Caloundra and Toowoomba

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New life, new home

With up to a third of supported accommodation seekers women fleeing domestic violence, the link between homelessness and domestic violence is clear – and the need for assistance is pressing.

Rosies Gold Coast branch has been forging links with local DV services, including Assist A Sista, to help women to rebuild their lives and move back into the wider community.

While food parcels are a regular offering for Rosies on the Gold Coast, for women who are leaving a refuge and trying to establish themselves in a new home, Rosies offers something a little different.

Along with regular food parcels, volunteers put together ‘Pantry Boxes’ to help establish a woman in her new kitchen.

The boxes are intended to help defray the initial costs of setting up a pantry, containing larger items that are used frequently but replaced only occasionally.

Gold Coast Branch Coordinator Wendy Coe says the boxes are made up of pantry staples rather than fresh fruit or vegetables.

‘They’re more items like flour, sauces, coffee, sugar, spices, cake mixes, or even washing powder,’ she said.

‘Not just something to get you through the next few days – these are items which help to set up a home.

‘If you have to go out and buy them all at once, it’s quite expensive – and for someone who’s starting out again with very few resources, just being able to go to the cupboard and add a few dried herbs to a meal or whip up a batch of pikelets is a big thing.

‘Part of feeling like you’re really home is being able to do those small things without thinking.’

 

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Rosies appoints new General Manager

Rosies welcomes a new General Manager of Rosies Youth Mission Inc, Andrew O’Brien, who replaces previous General Manager Troy Bailey. Andrew was appointed to the position on January 15, 2015, after having guided the organisation in an interim capacity since November.

Andrew is an experienced executive with a particular interest in the services offered within the mission of the Church.

Andrew qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1983 and pursued a career in local government culminating as CEO of Mount Isa City Council from 1998-2003. Subsequently he worked for the Queensland Government in the area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy, followed by two years in the Department of Infrastructure and Planning.

Between 2011 and 2014, Andrew worked for the Archdiocese of Brisbane in the role of Director Centacare Employment (Brisbane). Most recently, he acted as Interim Director of Centacare Toowoomba and assisted the transition to a new Director in September 2014.

Andrew has a strong interest in parish and community activities in his local area.

Rosies welcomes Andrew to the position and looks forward in 2015 to another successful year supporting our ‘friends on the street’.

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TROY BAILEY TAKES REINS AT ROSIES

Rosies – Friends on the Street is pleased to announce the appointment of Troy Bailey as general manager of the organisation.

Mr Bailey, a passionate Rosies volunteer and business operator, was selected from a high quality field of applicants for the position following incumbent Bob Boardman’s decision to retire from the position he has held since 2008.

A 20 year veteran of the hotel industry, more recently Mr Bailey, 47, has run a series of successful businesses across a variety of fields.

Acknowledging the outstanding work undertaken by his predecessor, Mr Bailey said he was determined to build on the positive impact Rosies has delivered in the community to those most in need.

“I would personally like to pass on my thanks to Bob Boardman for his significant contribution to Rosies,” Mr Bailey said.

“His hard work, passion and dedication have been much appreciated by everyone in the Rosies community.

“My task is to take this wonderful foundation which Bob has put in place and build an organisation which can reach out to positively impact more lives than it does presently.

“I will be seeking to continue the momentum to increase the Rosies brand exposure in the community.”

Rosies chairman John Scoble said the board was particularly impressed with Mr Bailey’s leadership qualities which have been demonstrated across business, educational and social environments.

“The Board was very pleased to attract a strong field of candidates for the General Manager’s position,” Mr Scoble said.

“Troy understands the Rosies ethos and has extensive experience in running small to medium businesses, combining solid financial management with strong communication and marketing skills.

“The board is very confident that Troy will bring great energy to this role and will enthusiastically carry on the outstanding work of Bob Boardman.”

Rosies is a non-preaching, non-discriminatory and not-for-profit organisation with volunteers in branches on the Gold Coast, Logan/Beenleigh, Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Caboolture, the Sunshine Coast, Cairns and Mareeba reaching out to 45,000 Queenslanders in need every year.

Volunteers provide friendship and support to marginalised and disadvantaged people on the streets, courts, youth detention centres and prisons through street and caravan park outreaches while also participating in prison, court and youth detention visits.

Highlighting the need to further develop the organisation’s fundraising, communications and marketing as key areas, Mr Bailey said a large part of his focus will be on building the collaborative culture within the organisation’s 850 volunteers.

“Having personally experienced the tremendous effort each and every volunteer puts in, I will work hard to convey to them how appreciated and valuable they are to the Rosies organisation.

“The dedication of our volunteers is the key component which allows us to reach out to some of our society’s most vulnerable members and I’m very aware of our need to recognise their role.”

Mr Bailey will take up his position immediately.

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