By Jolene Ogle
Wendi Rampton opens the lid of the beef stroganoff that is bubbling away in the slow cooker. The smell of spices and rich beef rises into the humid air of her Coolum Beach kitchen.
“Taste it,” she says, offering a spoon.
“Does it taste OK? I’m not much of a cook but I want to make sure it’s OK.”
Wendi is making one of 35 main courses that she will serve to long-time residents of Johns Landing later that week. She’ll also take a dessert, as well as towels, blankets, pillows, a thin mattress that was donated and some cream to help relieve a man’s skin condition.
The twice-weekly drive to Johns Landing in Cooroibah is part of Wendi’s mission to help those in need. She said she knows she has a life of comfort – listing hot water and electricity as her greatest riches – and said if she’s in a position to help then she should.
The self-driven and self-funded Campsite Rescue was born after Wendi first visited Johns Landing almost a year ago with a carload of blankets, towels and pillows. Since then, Wendi has visited the site twice a week to deliver food, care and friendship to those living rough.
If it wasn’t for Johns Landing, there would be people living in bus stops and the streets of Noosa being more “visual”, Wendi said.
But giving to those in need isn’t always the glorious, selfless deed many expect it to be and delivering a service without theoretical framework or government structure can lead to problems.
Wendi said she has been told to stay away from the site by local organisations, the meals she delivers have been criticised, and it can be difficult to secure volunteers and donations; but a desire to help those in need continues to drive her to John’s Landing and other caravan parks throughout the week. After all, the Greek fabulist Aesop did say no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
All of the meals delivered twice a week are prepared by Wendi in her home kitchen and the menu consists of whatever has been donated.
A dog food company has also come on board to supply food for the many dogs living with their owners at Johns Landing.
“Pets for the homeless is a vital part of their survival,” she said.
“Pets can help relieve stress and anxiety and when there’s no-one else there, your pet always is.”
According to Wendi, the homeless suffer from poor PR, with many believed to be violent drug addicts, petty criminals or who suffer from mental health issues.
“They’re not all drug addicts,” she said. “There are people who from time to time create problems in places such as Johns Landing. They get thrown out quickly, but their reputation stays.”
Wendi admits she has seen people affected by alcohol in the mornings when out at the site for one of her twice-weekly visits, but said she has never seen drugs or what she believes to be drug-affected people.
“A lot of people say you shouldn’t give homeless people money because they’ll use it for beer. Sure, they might buy beer, but many also buy phone credit. They can call Centrelink and sort out their payments that have been cut off because they couldn’t afford the bus fare to get to Centrelink for an appointment.
“Many also call friends for support. Phone calls can make a difference and help some get out of homeless.”
But Wendi’s mission to feed the homeless could soon come to an end with the long-time owners of Johns Landing looking to soon retire.
Benjamin Johns said nothing was finalised yet and there were no definite plans, but the family is hoping to sell the land to the council. Mr Johns, 78, said it will be hard to leave the place where he and his kids have all grown up, but he has appreciated people like Wendi and local churches who visit the site to help their long-term residents.
Wendi and Mr Johns said since the news broke of Johns Landing’s impending closure, both Centrelink and the Department of Housing have visited the campsite to take the names and details of those living rough. Wendi’s concern now is that the residents will be placed in housing in the suburbs, which she said is always what they wanted.
“I worry about what will happen to the people now (when the site closes),” she said.
“One woman I speak to said she can’t live in suburbia. She’ll kill someone. She needs to be rural. I hope they are rehoused to an environment they want, not an overcrowded caravan park.”
Wendi said many of those making a life at Johns Landing don’t want to leave and choose to stay because they like living there.
“These are good people,” she said. “These are real people who like living in this environment.”
Noosa Today previously reported (9 March) that the council’s community services director Alan ‘Fox’ Rogers confirmed the council was in discussions with the Johnses.
“These discussions are canvassing a range of issues with regard to the long-term future of the site,” he said at the time.
Mr Rogers said the council was also working with the State Government and various community organisations to address the needs and concerns of the residents at the camping ground, including helping them find accommodation closer to town.
“That’s going to be hard,” Mr Johns said. “There’s lots of them.”
