February 3, 2020
The South Burnett Peace Of Mind peer-to-peer support group was officially relaunched in Wondai on Friday night.
The group, which offers activities to assist people who have “fallen through cracks” of the usual welfare supports, was founded in 2011 by Kingaroy resident Rhonda Trivett.
In 2018, Rhonda was presented with the Volunteer of the Year Award at the South Burnett Regional Council’s annual Australia Day awards.
South Burnett Peace Of Mind operated a drop-in centre in Kingaroy for several years, and organised the annual White Dove Ball, but was forced to close in March last year.
Rhonda’s latest version of the group now plans to meet regularly at The Studio, in the Wondai Art Gallery.
Friday’s relaunch by South Burnett mayor Keith Campbell attracted a string of supporters, including councillors, representatives of welfare agencies and members of the public.
Rhonda’s efforts to support the disadvantaged in the local community were praised by a number of the guest speakers.
Compere for the evening, Cr Terry Fleischfresser, said Rhonda had “fought the good fight” for a long time for people without “peace of mind”.
Mayor Campbell agreed, saying Rhonda’s commitment to the community went back a long time.
“This is a lady who never tires of her great degree of enthusiasm and commitment to a cause,” Mayor Campbell said.
“I have been a genuine supporter of Rhonda’s … this is a lady who genuinely wants to help; she genuinely does care.
“A large part of the reason why she cares is because she’s travelled an awful journey herself. She’s lived through some dreadful times – times that none of us would want to live through ourselves – but she’s come through it.”
South Burnett CTC CEO Nina Temperton paid respect to Rhonda for her “perseverance, persistence and persuasive power”; her “utter and complete commitment” to her causes; and her endless ideas to help people who fall outside any agency or government program.
Social worker Matthew Armstrong, from Emerge Supports, said Rhonda was one of the people who inspired him.
“You can be a great professional, a well-trained psychiatrist, a caring person… but there is nothing ever that is as supportive, as strong and real as somebody with a lived experience,” he said.
“We see people in our community who can’t or won’t engage in a trusting way with professionals because there’s this big gap of life experience.
“It’s actually people like Rhonda who are the starting point for healing for people who can see somebody who has been through tough things, who understands the language.
“Sometimes it’s a little messy and tricky, but it’s sincere. There’s a lot of people Rhonda reaches that no one else can.”
Rhonda said the new South Burnett Peace of Mind would offer basic computer classes and life skills such as literacy and numeracy to teenagers and adults.
Entertainment at the evening was provided by Jeff Hancox, who performed some Elvis songs as well as a moving version of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”.
