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

 

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!

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

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

On Wednesday nights at the entrance to Woodridge railway station, Rosies volunteers arrive to the eager faces of patrons from every continent bar Antarctica.

Ruby, from her wheelchair, tells Andrew he must be a new volunteer because she hasn’t seen his face before.

Robbie, from the local Islamic temple turns up with home cooked meals for about 20 patrons.
New Rosies Chaplain Fr John David (recently arrived from India) joins Robbie as they engage with Sri Lankan, Iranian and other refugees.

Fr John speaks Tamil easily which facilitates some animated conversation.

Ed tunefully fills the backdrop with a variety of harmonica solos, and cheerfully tells a tale in spite of now being on his own and not in the best of health.

The Street Doctor (a Bangladeshi migrant) and his nurse (a delightful young Somalian woman) tend professionally and happily to an array of patients who would otherwise be reluctant to seek medical attention.

A young woman from Caboolture, looking rather lost, couldn’t believe the service on offer.

‘We have 216 nationalities in Logan,’ Logan branch coordinator Margaret Harvey says proudly, ‘and many of them are represented among our patrons and of our volunteer ranks.

‘The diversity ensures its never a dull moment.’

Yet it would be easy to get subsumed in the general camaraderie.

The dangers are obvious for some of the more vulnerable and we pray they have the strength to stand their ground.

The bond of our volunteer teams no doubt gives them hope.

While some spend the summer at the beach or relaxing in front of the TV, a group of Logan teenagers embarked on something different – a holiday project to help local homeless people.

Kuraby woman Aisha Abdallah, 19, came up with an idea: along with her friends, she wanted to do something to help people in her community feel good.
While watching overseas videos on the internet, inspiration struck – providing practical gifts to homeless people locally.

‘A man was going around asking homeless people what they wanted for Christmas,’ Aisha said.

‘They wanted little things, like a Starbucks coffee, just because they hadn’t had one in a while.’

Aisha was surprised by the simplicity of some of their answers, and realised that offering small but special gifts – ‘like a really delicious coffee’ – is a way of showing people they matter.

‘Such a little thing, done sincerely, can make someone really happy.’

Pooling their own money to buy the gifts, Aisha and her friends put together 30 bags filled with easy to eat items: snacks, noodle cups, biscuits with cheese, and small ready to eat tins, along with pieces of seasonal fresh fruit – ripe mangoes, nectarines, apples, and bananas.

The teenagers had originally planned to set out into Brisbane City on their own to find rough sleepers, but after contacting Rosies – Friends on the Street, they instead decided to distribute their gifts in their local community.

Four of the girls – Aisha, her sister, and two of her cousins – handed out the gifts to patrons attending Rosies’ Woodridge outreach.

They also spent some time talking with patrons and volunteers, as well as with staff from the Street Doctors mobile medical service who offer a GP clinic to the homeless.

‘We had heard of the Street Doctors, but I think it was a real eye-opener being a part of it,’ said Aisha.

Street team leader and Logan branch coordinator Margaret Harvey said patrons who come to Rosies are just like anyone else.

‘Some of them have had bad luck and some have an illness and no one cares about them,’ she said.

‘We have some pensioners who come every week – they’re isolated, they don’t have family so they come to us.’

Margaret says it’s common for Rosies patrons to feel like they are alone, and that many have difficulty finding opportunities to be social.

‘Some of our patrons have mental illness – they have a case worker who comes every two weeks, but no one else wants to spend time with them.’

She says most people who come to the Rosies van at Woodridge are not what many would consider ‘stereotypical’ rough sleepers.

‘Out here, you’re seeing the hidden homeless,’ said Margaret.

‘They’ve got a roof over their head, but nothing else.

‘Or families in cars. The kids are going to school every day, so nobody knows they’re homeless.’

Aisha said she and her friends enjoyed the experience, and planned to put together more gift bags for Rosies patrons throughout the year – with a range of different items like sunglasses, sunscreen, shampoo and conditioner and some homemade cupcakes.

Most of all, she hopes that the gesture will help some vulnerable people know they matter.

‘It’s just about saying hi to people, letting them know you’re thinking about them.’

To see the video that inspired Aisha and her friends, click here.

Logan volunteer represents Rosies at Duke and Duchess’s reception

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge hosted a reception for young Queenslanders of note on Saturday April 19.
Logan volunteer Sean Scanlon was selected to represent Rosies – Friends on the Street at the event, held at Southbank’s Convention Centre and co-hosted by the Premier and Governor of Queensland, in recognition of the work he does for Rosies.
Logan branch coordinator Margaret Harvey says Sean’s invitation is a fitting reward for his service to Rosies.
“At one stage he was taking out three teams as a team leader, as well as being deputy coordinator here in Logan.
“He also visits the Youth Detention Centre on top of that. I think he richly deserved to go.”
Sean thought the whole event was quite exciting.
“It was mostly a blur!” he said.
“What surprised me was that Princess Kate was already aware of the work Rosies do.
“I do remember telling her that I was one of 870 volunteers, and she was impressed.”