Natalie Cook brought the energy and humour that took the beach volleyballer to five Olympics and won her a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 when she spoke of the need for hope, as well as funds for those struggling in the region at the Noosa Coolum Salvation Army Fundraising breakfast at Sunshine Beach Lifesaving Club last week.
“Why is a beach volleyballer here with the Salvos,“ she asked the 160-strong crowd, before answering.
“The word that connects us all is hope. Hope starts with a dream.
“It may be of winning an Olympic gold medal one day. It may be a bed to sleep in, a warm shower, someone to be there.
“We’re all hope givers. I was eight years old from Townsville. I used to always come second. I hated coming second. I refused to come second. For me winning is not on the scoreboard, it’s a mindset.
“The one thing you need is to talk yourself up. The person you spend the most time with is yourself. You have to be kind and compassionate to yourself first and give yourself uplifting conversations, then you can give to others.“
When William and Catherine Booth founded The Salvation Army 165 years ago they had a dream that no one would go alone, she said.
“You never know when you’ll need a Salvo and in any crisis there’ll always be a Salvo,“ she said.
“Salvos play a bigger game. Every day they say how can we be the hope for others, how can we give to others.“
One of the projects highlighted at the breakfast was Salvo’s safe overnight carpark.
The only safe carpark in Queensland, it was established in Noosa for women aged over 55 years who are experiencing homelessness and live in their cars.
Sleeping in your car in Queensland is illegal, but for these women it’s their only option.
Before hearing from two women who are homeless and are using the Salvo’s safe carpark the breakfast heard how women living in their cars in Noosa not only sleep, when they can, in fear, but have to move many of their possessions out of their cars, putting them under their cars so they have room to put their seats back to sleep.
“One woman had so much stuff and such a small car she couldn’t put the seat back. She had to sleep upright. She was sleeping in the McDonald’s car park, the car was being rocked by youth at night. She was terrified, absolutely terrified,“ Salvos Ministry worker Amanda said.
It took the Salvos about 18 months to get the safe car park off the ground. Thanks to their partners including charity Smile for a Child who have been funding its security gate, portable shower and toilet and ongoing expenses, the car park has operated for over 540 nights.
The carpark operates from 8pm to 8am and is limited to six stays per night due to its limited facilities. It has had 20 people through it to date. Those using the carpark are on a waitlist for housing and Salvos have a waiting list for the use of the safe overnight carpark.
Through a partnership between Salvos and Sunshine Beach State High School, students are building a facility with two toilets, two showers and laundry facilities which will enable more homeless women to be accommodated.
“It’s opened our eyes to a whole marginalised piece of society,“ Amanda said.
“So many people say ’not in my backyard’, I can tell you it’s in your backyard.“
Estelle and Karen are both using the safe car park.
Estelle told the breakfast she had been working in a Caloundra cafe, but ended up on Workcover and was referred to Noosa Salvos by Caloundra Salvos.
“I was sleeping in my car, not going to sleep until 2-3 in morning,“ she said.
“Without these guys I’d be lost.“
Karen said she relocated to Noosa a couple of years ago to care for her elderly father while working part time.
“I took care of him for just over a year, he passed away,“ she said. “I found myself out of work due to degenerative health issues. I put my name down for housing. They suggested I get a support letter from Salvation Army.
“The Salvos welcomed me with open arms. I thought this is too much kindness. I’m not used to this. These people are so kind and giving, do I deserve that. They told me about the carpark. I took advantage of that. I decided I can’t accept all this kindness and generosity without giving back.“
Both Karen and Estelle now volunteer with the Salvos.
“I’m there nearly every day,“ Estelle said. “I love it. I’m a Christian woman. I feel although I’m homeless I don’t feel homeless. I feel I am home with the Salvos.
“They’ve given me my dignity back and offered me love and friendship and I’m so grateful for the team, the whole team.
“I’m on a list to get housing. I’ve waited a year which they say is not long for a homeless person.“
Noosa Coolum Salvos Corps Officer Matt Gluyas said the attendance at the breakfast meant so much to the Salvos.
“It shows you care and hope is always possible,“ he said.
“We see people every day rising up against all odds, from homelessness to healing, from addiction to freedom, from isolation to community, from brokenness to new beginnings.
“No one rises alone. Someone takes the first step, there is always someone walking beside them. We want to see more women housed, more children given opportunities through education, more lives set free from addiction, isolation. We want to be a movement for hope. We can’t do it without you.
“Maybe it’s a financial gift, maybe it’s a prayer, maybe it’s becoming a volunteer. All we need is hope and all we need is each other.“
To help the Noosa Coolum Salvos phone 5335 8500 or email noosa.corps@salvationarmy.org.au
