43 year old Veteran of the Australian Navy, Jah, has been coming to Rosies for the last three years.

Jah is a regular attendee of our Wednesday morning outreach at Hugh Muntz Park in Beenleigh, alongside 30 other members of the community who look to Rosies to provide community, connection and friendship. Like many people who find themselves in a difficult situation, Rosies was the first service that Jah turned to for support.

“Through circumstances I had found myself homeless, I struggled a little bit with some issues and the first guys I found (for help) were Rosies. They put me onto OrangeSky and then Sue from the HHOT team (Homeless Persons Hotline), but Rosies was the first,” said Jah.

He continued, “I’ve made a lot of connections too, you know. I met a fellow veteran’s wife who is a Rosies’ volunteer, and she’s put me onto some other veterans, who have a group and outreach and stuff like that. I wouldn’t have been able to do that if Rosies wasn’t here.”

Food insecurity is a growing issue for the people who attend outreach in the more suburban areas where services are less accessible. Led by the need of the community and the generosity of the volunteers, Rosies Beenleigh has worked to provide more substantial meals for our patrons going beyond staple items like tea/coffee, biscuits and noodles.

“A lot of people look forward to the feed on Wednesday mornings because of the time and effort that the Rosies volunteers put in. A lot of people appreciate that they have really good meals. You know, you’d pay good money to have some of the meals that they provide and it’s a kind of comfort. You know, it makes people feel a little bit special. It makes them feel, you know, that we still belong” Jah said.

Sharna, who has been a volunteer since 2021, often brings something special to outreach for the patrons, “We take turns. I brought something savoury this week and Jeanette did something sweet – it’s just a little thing that I can do to make someone else feel happy and loved.”

For Jah it’s not just the food that keeps him coming back week after week, “Well, they all know me by my name and that’s cool. To the volunteers it’s not like we’re just people, we’re individuals and they know our names and they take the time to say hello, ask how are you? That’s personal and that’s what a lot of people need is a bit of someone who doesn’t know them, who doesn’t judge them, and is just there for us. And it’s amazing.”

“I know that no matter where I am if there is a Rosies, I can stop in and say hi, have a coffee, maybe something to eat and then be on my way again. Even if I don’t stay and chat the volunteers don’t mind, they are just happy that we are there and that we are happy.”

He also stated, “I’ve been to a couple of different Rosies, the City and Wynnum but nothing comes close to the Beenleigh volunteers. On outreach once my phone was stolen and one of the volunteers just went across the road and bought me a new one and I couldn’t believe it. He was so kind, and it was such a relief because I rely on my phone.”

For people experiencing homelessness, hardship, disadvantage or social isolation their phone is their lifeline. It’s the way they access services, connect with friends and family and so much more. Even something as simple as logging into a myGov account can’t be done without access to a mobile phone. Jah is now in a position where he can help others, “I’ve worked closely with Rosies and Orange Sky and we’ve grown a good rapport with each other. You know we can work with each other and help others that have just found themselves in this situation. And that kind of thing rubs off, you know, doing something for someone else, but for nothing in return. It’s really important that you feel comfortable because sometimes it’s hard to ask for help, but if someone else is kind of guiding you along the way and introducing you, it’s a lot easier. It makes you feel more comfortable. I try and do that for other people who need help.”

He continued, “I know this sounds weird, but I’m pretty happy where I’m at, what I’m doing. Just friendship, that’s all I want, that’s all I need.”

If you would like to support the work that Rosies does in Beenleigh and across Queensland to ensure that patrons like Jah have a safe space to share friendship, please donate today.