January 23, 2018
Brisbane nurse Micaela Conroy helped to spread Christmas cheer in the South Burnett this year with the help of some local volunteers.
South Burnett PCYC manager Sgt Rod Gelderblom was approached by Micaela before Christmas with an offer to provide help to local families that could be doing things a little tough.
Micaela and colleagues Bernie Thomsen and Jacinta Coman, from the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, made the trek from Brisbane to provide much-needed help to families outside the Brisbane area.
They raised funds from their workmates and on the GoFundMe website to buy Christmas gifts
This isn’t the first time the trio has headed west … in 2016 they spread Christmas cheer in the Roma and St George areas.
“With the generous support, kindness and generosity of the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital community, the PCYC and local community members were able to deliver a substantial amount of cheer to the local community,” Sgt Gelderblom said.
“Some of the recipients included families in the Proston, Cloyna and Wheatlands areas and organisations such as the Cherbourg Indigenous Knowledge Centre for use of whole community, Gundoo Child Care Centre and vulnerable persons located at Men’s and Women’s shelters.”
Sgt Gelderblom said he would also like to acknowledge Kate Tallar, from Proston, and Pat and Alan Eagleson, from Mondure, for their assistance in identifying families and assisting with the distribution throughout the rural locations.
This is some of the feedback received by the PCYC from a Proston volunteer:
“I delivered some to the farms and houses myself. One man nearly cried at the sight of presents for his four young children. Those gifts sure made so many people happy. They made us feel happy to pass the gift to those in need. Thank you for spreading the cheer to Proston.”
