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.

In early April, Toowoomba volunteers were offered the opportunity to participate in a fundraising BBQ at the Harvey Norman Centre with the proceeds to be used for the ongoing work of Rosies outreaches. Our Rosies marquee added a carnival atmosphere to the special Car Park Sale which was held at the Harvey Norman Shopping Complex.
On thatbeautiful Autumn day, volunteers enjoyed the experience taking time between cooking and serving the public, to meet and socialise with other volunteers from the various teams. With other major events scheduled for the same day, the opening of the new Grand Central Shopping Complex and the Toowoomba Show, volunteers hard work was rewarded with the total of $740 raised for the work of Rosies. Special thanks to everyone who assisted with the organisation and to those who generously volunteered their time to provide the hot food throughout the day. We have booked another day for early October and look forward to meeting up again and enjoying the day together.
Well done and thank you!

The branch has been nominated as charity of choice by the Red Rose Fund for their upcoming Gala Ball ‘Voyage a Paris‘. to be held in Toowoomba on June 16. What an inspirational group of women giving back to their community!
The ongoing support from the Toowoomba community ensures that three nights a week friendship is shared around the community BBQ.

Jon Martlew is moving on from his role as Rosies branch coordinator in Toowoomba. Jon made an enormous contribution in developing Rosies in Toowoomba. From small steps Jon has been instrumental in establishing Rosies activities and profile in his home city in the space of a few short years. His embrace of all those he engages with is legendary as is his selflessness in giving of his time and more. In that time Jon has trained a couple hundred volunteers, drawn the support of numerous individuals and organisations, and trebled the outreach activity. Rosies is a wonderful presence in the Toowoomba community for which Jon and his committee can be justifiably proud.