Media Coverage
Brothers rallies in aid of appeal
Brothers Leagues Club general manager Mark Hennelly, Queensland Times ad manager Paul Young and Brothers Leagues Club operations manager Tim Wright with hampers the club has donated.
Rob Williams
ENSURING local families can look forward to a very merry Christmas, Brothers Leagues Club has dug deep for charity as part of The Queensland Times Adopt-a-Family for Christmas appeal.
Brothers general manager Mark Hennelly said the club was pleased to be part of the initiative, donating 30 hampers valued at about $150 each.
He said it was a worthwhile cause to get behind.
“This opportunity came along and we had these hampers, so we thought rather than run a promotion at the club, we would give them to a local group and help those less fortunate at Christmas,” Mr Hennelly said.
As part of the QT appeal, the hampers will be distributed to local families through organisations such as Ipswich-based charity Harvest Rain Christian Care.
Pastor Fred Muys said generally the hampers would come as a surprise to recipients.
“Some now know they are receiving a hamper for Christmas and the news has come as a great relief,” Pastor Muys said.
He said, along with other local agencies, the organisation saw on average 30 families “experiencing some form of crises” each week
“Many of the families are on pensions with Centrelink and have faced increases in the cost of living such as rent, electricity and fuel,” he said.
“That means they have very little left over for emergencies like family illnesses or it could be their car breaking down or added expenses with their children.”
He said volunteers who distributed the hampers found it a rewarding experience.
“For people receiving the hampers it means they are sharing Christmas with the rest of the community,” he said.
Adopt-a-Family appeal co-ordinator Bernadette Mohr said while all original families had now been adopted, additional local families could still be assisted.
“All the public needs to do is give me a call on 1719 or email 3817 bernadette.mohr@qt.com.au and I will be able to provide a family who needs assistance for Christmas. It’s not too late,” she said.
“I have placed a food order for 60 emergency hampers to cover referrals from other welfare agencies.
“We are expecting more requests as Christmas comes closer.”
Bernadette Mohr and Fred Muys with Ipswich Girls’ Grammar students Greta Hunter and Elizabeth Bartetzko who have donated items for the appeal.
CELEBRATING Christmas with a social conscience, Ipswich Girls’ Grammar students have dug deep for charity.
School music teacher Sally Linneman Grennan said as part of entry to the school’s annual festive concert, students were required to bring along gifts to donate to The Queensland Times Adopt-a-Family for Christmas appeal.
“It had a dual purpose. It put people in a festive spirit on our last day of school and also provided presents for needy people in Ipswich,” Mrs Linneman Grennan said.
“The response was pretty good.
“There were a lot of nice teen presents, such as perfume, hair accessories and make-up.”
Mrs Linneman Grennan said presents would be made up into hampers and distributed to needy Ipswich families.
“The girls at the school generally don’t need a lot,” she said.
“They have food on the table and nice clothes and an education.
“It is good for them to remember that there are people who through no fault of their own go without.
“They need a bit of help and it is nice for them to know that someone cares.”
Appeal coordinator Bernadette Mohr said the response to the appeal had been phenomenal.
Ms Mohr said while all but two of the 273 families had been adopted, an additional 13 needy families had been sought from the Ipswich Regional Advocacy Service and Ipswich Women’s Shelter.
“This has been the best appeal yet,” she said.
Ms Mohr said cash donations to make up emergency hampers were still needed, with locals also able to drop off non-perishable goods or toys at Bremer Ford at Ebbw Vale, Bundamba Skateaway, Network Video at Winston Glades, the QT at West Ipswich and Brookwater Golf Club.
17 Nov 09 @ 02:15pm by Alena Wilson
Harvest Rain Christian Care director Pastor Fred Muys.
ABOUT 75 Ipswich families are able to put food on the table every week due to the work of Harvest Rain Christian Care.
The Brisbane St-based community care and welfare organisation, which opened in 1986, receives weekly deliveries of food from Foodbank Queensland.
Pastor Fred Muys said Harvest Rain provided food to both disadvantaged families and to those in crisis through an emergency relief welfare program.
“Our core objective is to help disadvantaged people in the community whether they are unemployed; people in financial distress; or have some other form of social need,” he said.
Pastor Muys said there was a steady demand for their services and that of other local agencies.
“It’s really about helping people both in times of crisis, and just helping them meet the ever-increasing living costs,” he said.
In addition to the food programs, Harvest Rain operates free adult literacy classes and an employment program for the long-term unemployed.
Pastor Muys said that since the adult literacy program was established in 2003, Harvest Rain’s team of volunteers had helped 200 locals learn to read.
He said a further 96 people had participated in their employment program, which had resulted in about 70 per cent gaining full-time employment.
CALLING all workplaces and organisations - 60 families need help so dig deep.
This was the message from The Queensland Times' Adopt-A-Family co-ordinator Bernadette Mohr yesterday.
Ms Mohr said the appeal would end next Friday and she wanted every nominated family to receive a hamper.
"By this time of the year I'm usually down to 20 to 30 families so I'm behind the eight-ball," Ms Mohr said.
"But I realise many families are doing it tough so I'm relying on businesses, social groups and community associations."
Ms Mohr said people could give cash if they were tight on time.
"Some places forgo Secret Santa gifts and make a donation to the appeal," Ms Mohr said.
"If they are willing to make a donation, I'm quite happy to buy the groceries."
Harvest Rain Christian Care is one of several organisations that has nominated families to the appeal.
"Over the last 18 months, increases in rentals, electricity, food and fuel costs have pushed a lot more families into the struggling category," director Fred Muys said.
HOW TO DONATE: Phone 3817 1719 or visit the QT office at 260 Brisbane Street, West Ipswich.
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations Thursday, November 15, 2007
GRANT GIVES LITERACY SKILLS TO IPSWICH RESIDENTS IN NEED
Forty-two Ipswich residents will benefit from literacy training thanks to a State Government Skilling Queenslanders for Work grant.
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations Tuesday, October 23, 2007
OLD TIVOLI DRIVE-IN SPRUCE UP CONTINUES
The old Tivoli drive-in site will continue to go from strength to strength thanks to a $329,020 Skilling Queenslanders for Work project and the hard work of 24 disadvantaged jobseekers.
Ipswich Girls’ gifts boost appeal
Harvest Rain dishes family dinners
60 families still need our help
The Honourable John Mickel
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan announced Harvest Rain Christian Care Ltd had been awarded $48,550 to run the Harvest Rain Christian Care Adult Literacy project.
“This project will assist adults with low literacy and numeracy skills, as well as new immigrants and others for whom English is their second language,” said Mr Mickel.
“Programs like this under our Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative are helping people to develop the skills and confidence they need to participate meaningfully in the community and in the workforce,” said Mr Mickel.
Member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan said students are individually assessed to establish current literacy levels, special learning requirements and any personal aspirations for the future.
“Participants develop a range of skills including reading, writing, speaking, numeracy, job search and computer skills,” said Ms Nolan.
“As they progress, they are offered support and assistance to either progress with further training or to seek and obtain employment,” said Ms Nolan.
Pastor Fred Muys said the Harvest Rain Literacy project provides them with the opportunity to learn important skills and build confidence in a non-threatening environment.
“At Harvest Rain, we see first hand how isolating a low level of literacy is for people and the extent to which it prevents people from actively participating in society,” said Pastor Muys.
“One of our former students did not leave his house except to come to Literacy because he was so lacking in confidence.
“Others are used to walking everywhere because they can’t read timetables or signs on public transport,” said Pastor Muys.
“As people learn to read and write they are empowered to more effectively take part in society by being able to read community notices, fill in forms, pay bills and even obtain employment or progress onto further training or formal education.”
The project caters to individual needs, enabling them to work at their own pace in small groups, receive individual tutoring or learn through computer based learning modules. Trained tutors are on hand to assist participants through the project.
During 2007/08 the Queensland Government will invest $80 million in the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to give an estimated 17,000 long-term unemployed and underemployed people job related assistance and skills training to maximise labour force participation and increase Queensland's prosperity.
Twelve months after receiving employment and training assistance 67 per cent of participants are in employment.
Skilling Queenslanders for Work is part of the State Government’s $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan which aims to provide individuals and industry with the skills and workforce for the 21st Century.
For more information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative visit www.employment.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 925
Contact: Harvest Rain Christian Care
Pastor Fred Muys on 3812 0207 or fredmuys@riversoflife.com
Member for Ipswich contact: 3202 3452
Ministerial Contacts: Chris Brown on 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir on 3235 4060
November 15, 2007
The Honourable John Mickel
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Ipswich West Wayne Wendt said the two-stage project would be run by Harvest Rain Christian Care.
“The first stage of the project will give participants paid work and valuable skills doing landscaping around the training and administration area and construction to finish off the community hall and kitchen refurbishments,” Mr Mickel said.
“The second group of participants will be employed to plan and coordinate four major community events to be held at the old drive-in – a market day, a movie in the park day, and two regional car club events.
“With unemployment at 3.6 per cent the focus of employment programs has changed as we look toward ways of addressing skills shortages.
“We have turned our attention to helping alleviate the effects of these shortages by giving the disadvantaged members of our communities the skills to contribute to our workforce – and our thriving economy.”
Mr Wendt said the project follows on from the success of two previously funded projects which gave 36 participants paid work and a skills boost, and resulted in 23 of these people turning their newfound skills into sustainable work.
“The project is a win-win for the Ipswich community who will benefit from upgraded facilities, have an exciting new local venue and boost the number of skilled workers,” he said.
Harvest Rain Director Pastor Fred Muys said the refurbishments and upcoming events are greatly anticipated by the local community
“We expect to attract over 1,000 visitors to our community events,” Pastor Muys said.
“All participants will have their real-world experience backed up by access to literacy and numeracy training and the option to do accredited training toward Certificate II in Hospitality (Operations).
The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative together with its predecessor the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative have helped create more than 124,000 jobs for Queenslanders since 1998.
Skilling Queenslanders for Work is part of the State Government’s $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan which aims to provide individuals and industry with the skills and workforce for the 21st Century.
For more information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative visit www.employment.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 925
Contact: Harvest Rain Director Pastor Fred Muys on 3812 0207 or fredmuys@riversoflife.com
Member for Ipswich West: 3813 0074
Ministerial contact: Chris Brown on 3237 1944 or Elouise Campion on 3237 1125
October 23, 2007