{"id":210173,"date":"2018-05-31T22:13:05","date_gmt":"2018-05-31T12:13:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=210173"},"modified":"2020-08-03T16:30:52","modified_gmt":"2020-08-03T06:30:52","slug":"one-person-can-make-a-difference-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/05\/31\/one-person-can-make-a-difference-2\/","title":{"rendered":"One Person Can Make A Difference"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Marie Shaw, who has been providing JP services at the South Burnett Peace Of Mind Drop-In Centre, with Rhonda Trivett at Kingaroy Library on Thursday morning<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 31, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

South Burnett Peace Of Mind founder Rhonda Trivett is on the lookout for volunteers … to help on the organising committee, to help at the Drop-In Centre or just to provide a kind ear to people in trouble.<\/p>\n

Rhonda spoke to a group of potential volunteers gathered at the Kingaroy Library on Thursday morning.<\/p>\n

Mayor Keith Campbell, who introduced Rhonda to the group, said she was an “amazing lady”.<\/p>\n

“If you knew her story you would understand the capacity of this lady to do good for people who are less advantaged,” he said.<\/p>\n

“She has been through hell herself, and she knows what she wants to impart to others in the community.<\/p>\n

“She needs a helping hand …”<\/p>\n

Rhonda launched the South Burnett Peace of Mind Association in 2011.<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the first projects was to get a drop-in centre running, which still operates on Mondays from 9:00am to 9:30pm at the Lutheran Church Hall in Youngman Street, Kingaroy.<\/p>\n

People wander in and out, play games, do activities, chat, enjoy meals …<\/p>\n

Many of them have mental health issues or disabilities; some are simply homeless.<\/p>\n

Rhonda estimates there are about 25 people currently sleeping rough in Kingaroy, alternating between sleeping in parks and couch surfing with friends.<\/p>\n

She said she often fields calls from the police to pick up someone, or from real estate agents.<\/p>\n

“Why lock up people in a watchhouse? Why have people go into a mental health unit when we can help them in the community?” she said.<\/p>\n

Rhonda’s dream for the next stage revolves around the NDIS and possible opportunities to train people to assist.<\/strong><\/p>\n

She envisages a course containing units from a Certificate IV in Aged Care and mental health training, combined with practical tips from people such as herself who have experience working with people.<\/p>\n

“We need people because I won’t always be around …” she said.<\/p>\n

“I need a team of people who are willing to go out on the streets at night, because that’s where the kids are.<\/p>\n

“I need people who will be available 24\/7.”<\/p>\n

Rhonda is still working on a dream to get land – donated by the State Government – and a house for emergency accommodation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“If we get a house, we will need staff … volunteers who will stay there overnight.”<\/p>\n

Rhonda said many people were afraid to talk to people who had a mental illness.<\/p>\n

“When you get to know these guys, they are really nice people,” she said.<\/p>\n

“People think that if you have a mental illness you are crazy.<\/p>\n

“Believe me, volunteers make a big difference to these people, because they know they care.<\/p>\n

“If everyone would just help each other, we wouldn’t have these problems.”<\/p>\n

She said there were plenty of benefits from volunteering, including learning new skills.<\/p>\n

At the moment, Rhonda is looking for new people to join the South Burnett Peace Of Mind organising committee – especially someone willing to act as secretary – and volunteers to help at the Drop-In centre.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Drop-In volunteers can be willing to share skills – like knitting or craft – or just simply talk to people.<\/p>\n

“I believe that one person can make a difference. It starts with one person …”<\/p>\n

Rhonda Trivett can be contacted on\u00a00455-296-845.<\/p>\n

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