Angels create haven for those in need

 Ashley Schipper

Angels Community Group will be able to provide a hot shower and laundry services to those in need once their new support centre is up and running in the next few months.

The building, situated at the former Stewart and Sons coach terminal in Targo Street, has been a massive project for the not-for-profit organisation but one the team is very excited to get underway.

Angels Community Group executive officer Sue Tasker said the new hub would provide a range of free services.

"We are going to have a dedicated support centre where we can provide emergency hampers, a sit down area so people can have a cup of coffee and some food, as well as a shower and laundry," she said.

"At the moment we know there are a lot of people living in their cars and tents with the rental situation who will appreciate these facilities.

"Having a warm shower is a basic human need and being able to provide a place where people can clean up and feel safe is something I have always wanted to be part of."

Angels Community Group was formed in 2015 when founding members Kerri Savidge and Sue Tasker realised the power that comes from giving people a purpose.

The passionate team is dedicated to giving back to the community through their range of social enterprises, support services and charitable projects.

The group provides hampers, schools supplies, Christmas gifts, food, haircuts, training programs and much more.

Sue said the building that would transform into their support services hub was currently being renovated and hoped it would be ready for opening within the next few months.

"The construction side of things should be finished soon and then we will get in there and start painting, building a disability ramp and more," she said.

"It's been a long process but we just go for it and it seems to work out somehow, it's exciting."

She said the decision to move to a bigger location meant bigger overheads for the not-for-profit group, but that was something she was willing to sort through.

"Where we are located now, we just don't have the ability to have a designated support centre and the services that we can offer is very limited which is why we needed to expand," Sue said.

"It is very scary for us because it is a big investment and we are increasing our rent by a lot but I think it is very important to provide these types of spaces in the community."

Sue said the support centre would be combined with the mini mart that was currently located at Walla Street.

The second-hand store will remain in the area and double in size once the mini mart moves.

Locals offer support for Angels' new venture

Local groups have been showing their support for Angels and their big move by providing donations to the organisation to help with their upcoming plans.

Sons Of The Southern Cross SMC Widebay Chapter Inc recently handed over a cheque of $1500 to the volunteers.

"This was such a pleasant surprise, we have a lot of expenses at the moment with our move fast approaching," Sue said.

"We appreciate it so much and it’s going to make a big difference."

To find out more about the Angels Community Group and the many services they provide click here.

Talk Like a Pirate to fight childhood cancer

Georgia Neville

The Cook family is encouraging the community to support Talk Like a Pirate Day this year, after experiencing firsthand the effects childhood cancer has on a family.

Talk Like a Pirate Day raises funds for Childhood Cancer Support, an organisation that the Cook family knows all too well.

Rhiannon Cook said her daughter India was diagnosed with a rare liver cancer at just seven years old, prompting the family to contact the organisation.

“We started investigating precocious puberty in my daughter when she was seven years old and after a few investigations we found out that she had liver cancer,” Rhiannon said.

“The type of cancer that she had is paracellular carcinoma, which is more often found in aged alcoholics and it is very rare for a child to get it, so it is a slight variant.

“We got in contact with Childhood Cancer Support and they put us up in accommodation in Brisbane which was absolutely phenomenal.”

The services provided to the family by Childhood Cancer Support helped them to get through trips to Brisbane and supported the family in many different ways.

“We had our own self contained unit and we had our own social worker who was there to give us a hand and there were beautiful food donations bought in as well,” she said.

Not only was the accommodation and support provided fantastic, but Rhiannon said the opportunity to live in an environment where the other people understood what you were going through, and what the kids were going through, was a big help.

“You lived in your own little community with people who are going through very similar circumstances, all with different childhood cancers,” she said.

“You could all go out into the playground and everyone understood what you were going through and everyone understood what the kids' needs were so it was really beautiful to be there together.”

Fortunately, the family have come through the other side of the treatment and India is recovering well.

“India is fantastic now; she has been to her twelve month scans and thankfully nothing has come back,” she said.

“In saying that, we aren’t out of the clear for another three or four years but we have only four trips to Brisbane rather than every other month.”

The family remain in close contact with the team at Bundaberg Hospital, who are this year hosting a fundraiser of their own on Talk Like a Pirate Day.

“The Bundaberg Hospital has been amazing, we get regular contact from Kobi as she rings to check on you,” she said.

“When we would go in the team were always really supportive and understanding that these experiences are really traumatic for a child.”

Rhiannon encourages the local community to support Talk Like a Pirate Day, as it is a great way to raise awareness of childhood cancer and raise much needed funds for Childhood Cancer Support to continue its great work.

“Talk Like a Pirate Day raises much needed awareness for childhood cancer and raises funds for Childhood Cancer Support and if we can be ambassadors for that, it is great.

“Everyone should get involved, it is very easy and kids look amazing.”

Talk Like a Pirate Day is held on September 15, with the Bundaberg Hospital this year hosting a fundraiser of their own.

The Bundaberg Hospital paediatric department is raising funds for Talk Like a Pirate Day, supporting families that come through the hospital affected by childhood cancer.

The hospital’s paediatric department see firsthand the positive support the Childhood Cancer Support organisation is providing to local families, urging them to get together and raise funds for Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Bundaberg Hospital Paediatric Nurse Amy Slapp said the fundraiser was important to the team as they understood the support required for families who are going through childhood cancer diagnosis and treatments.

“This is important to us on the ward as we have patients going through cancer treatment which is difficult enough without having the added pressures of finances or the child being separated from their family during treatment,” Amy said.

“This organisation helps keep families together in a stressful time when they need each other.”

Amy said the hospital was looking forward to hosting a range of activities on the day to raise funds and were currently on the look out for any donations that could be used for raffles.

“We are running the fundraiser on Wednesday 15 September which will consist of a continuous raffle, a money board and hopefully a barbecue,” she said.

“We would be happy with anything we could put towards our raffle or if we end up with bigger donations we could hold a silent auction.”

Anyone can donate directly to the Bundaberg Paeds fundraiser page ahead of the day or for those who can’t be there on the day can do so here.

Julie’s Balinese garden a place for leisure

Morgan Everett

Julie Ann has spent the last two years creating a relaxing foliage filled retreat in her own backyard.

With leisure at the forefront of the plans, the garden surrounds an outdoor shower, fire pit and deck all handcrafted by Julie and her partner who has adopted the nickname of ‘Handy Andy.’

“The neighbours on this street are all friends and we love to get together to enjoy the garden,” Julie said.

“The big shed is a men’s shed with a pool table, darts, TV and karaoke while the ladies chill on the deck and around the fire.”

While the outdoor area didn’t always look this way, Julie said she had enjoyed seeing it come together and had plans to continue work in other parts of the garden.

“The first thing we did was clear all the rocks.

“The dog couldn’t lay there, and we couldn’t walk on them, so we just cleared them off,” she said.

“Then it was gardening, taking out plants I didn’t like and putting in plants I did like.

“The firepit was the next project which led into giving the garden edges dimension with higher bricks and the deck which was built just two months ago.”

Julie said her neighbours couldn’t believe how fast they’d transformed their space and seeing it all come together had been amazing.

The sloping terrain called for an innovative solution, and Julie said she loved working with the varying levels to create a safe pathway to and from the backyard.

“We just go with it because I think that’s what makes this property different and unique because it’s got all those different levels, and it’s the same inside so we like it,” she said.

The green thumb said her aim was to create a Balinese themed garden and enjoy the lush greenery the plants’ foliage provided all year round.

“With Cordylines, when they get tall enough you can just chop them off and stick them into the ground and they will then grow roots and continue to grow,” she said.

“The cutting will then double or triple, so you’ve got multiple cuttings and then you just keep doing that until they thicken up.

“I love Cordylines for that reason and obviously all the different colours you can get.”