March 9, 2016
A project to help re-build confidence and self-esteem in at-risk teenagers and relink them into society has been launched in the South Burnett by Nanango not-for-profit association Boots’n Bulldust.
“Rebuilding A Future” aims to get young people – most of whom have been excluded from school – off the street and engaged again with education and employment options.
The program is being run by Sandy Towell, from Boots’n Bulldust, and local boilermaker and speedway driver Mark Calvert who is volunteering his time.
The teenagers are working to repair motor vehicles which have been donated by South Burnett residents.
Sandy said seven cars had been given to the program, either for parts or to rebuild.
When southburnett.com.au visited the program’s temporary facility in Nanango on Tuesday, Mark and two young lads were working on a 2001 Honda CR-V donated by Tonia and Rhys Gilbert, from Nanango.
They had replaced and rewired a smashed rear window which had been damaged by a horse. Next up, they plan to investigate what needs to be done to repair the motor.
The teenagers come just one day a week – on Mark’s day off from Kingaroy Hydraulink – and work from 10:00am to 2:00pm.
Sandy said the program had been running for just three weeks, and there had been five or six teenagers involved each time.
She had already seen an improvement in the boys.
Boots’n Bulldust has been working in with Youth Justice, Nanango State High School and TAFE Queensland South West to select the participants.
Sandy said it had taken 2 1/2 years “trying to connect the dots” to bring the program to fruition. Boots’n Bulldust was handling all the paperwork, insurance etc.
Youth Justice had donated $4100 worth of tools but more were still needed.
She said the first finished vehicle would be auctioned to put funds back into the program to keep it going.
“This is a pilot project,” Mark said. “If it works well, we can apply for more funding.”
Sandy added: “Any help we can get along the way would be most appreciated.”
From next week, the “Rebuilding A Future” program will be relocating to a shed in Kingaroy, closer to Mark’s work.
Footnote: Sandy said Boots’n Bulldust would also be taking over Distance Education tutoring for students who been excluded from school through a program called “Link Ed”.
