Meet the Christmas volunteers of Rockhampton

While Christmas is usually touted as the most wonderful time of year, there are still people in the community doing it tough. Meet the locals who want to help them.

Meet just some of Rockhampton's Christmas volunteers for 2023.

Christmas is touted as the most wonderful time of the year, but for some it can also be one of the most difficult.

Cost of living pressures, homelessness, interest rates and health struggles are just some of the things people are dealing with in Central Queensland.

But in the community there are some people donating their time out of the kindness of their hearts to help those doing it tough.

Meet just some of Rockhampton’s Christmas volunteers below.

DI WODE, ANGLICARE CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

AnglicareCQ Christmas hamper co-ordinator Di Wode. Picture: Aden Stokes

Di Wode and her husband Clyde have volunteered for Anglicare Central Queensland for more than 20 years and have been helping with the Christmas hampers most of that time.

Each year Anglicare Central Queensland assists people in need by providing a Christmas hamper with non-perishable food items and other goodies to make Christmas a little more special.

In 2022, more than 300 hampers were delivered to individuals and families in the Rockhampton region.

Di, who is the Christmas hamper co-ordinator, said this year there were more people in need of hampers than ever, with 180 families and 150 single people in need.

“Christmas is usually a happy time but it can also be a tough time,” she said.

Di Wode wrapping a Christmas present. Picture: Aden Stokes

“This year we seem to have more families in need.

“Any support anyone can give is greatly appreciated.”

Anglicare Central Queensland will be doing Christmas wrapping at City Centre Plaza until December 24.

There is a food bin outside Coles where people can donate groceries, as well as a raffle and Christmas tree at the wrapping station near Target where people can leave toys to be donated.

Money raised from the Christmas wrapping will go towards buying groceries for the Christmas hampers.

MARG WHITCHURCH AND KAREN BAKER, HEART FOUNDATION

Marg Whitchurch and Karen Baker. Picture: Contributed

Karen Baker and Marg Whitchurch are part of a dedicated group of more than 50 Rockhampton volunteers known as the “Rocky Wrappers”, who have rallied together for its 30th year to once more wrap presents and raise money for the Heart Foundation.

Having raised more than $316,000 over the last three decades, the Rockhampton Christmas Wrap has set up its wrapping station in Stockland Rockhampton Shopping Centre where volunteers wrap and decorate gifts until December 24.

Karen joined the program nine years ago while fellow volunteer Margaret, who was named in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours List, and awarded an Order of Australia for her service to the community, has been part of the annual event since it began.

“It’s such a joy to meet people and talk to people – and we put our heart and soul into wrapping their gifts – it’s a big operation,” Margaret said.

“In previous years we have gone through 8000 pre-curled ribbons, 60 large rolls of wide sticky tape and about 5000 gift tags.

“The Rocky Wrap is Rockhampton’s only fundraising event where all proceeds go to the Heart Foundation, so it’s a pretty big deal for all those who are involved – it’s such an important organisation that we love to support and will continue to support.”

Karen said the volunteers for the stand came from local organisations as well as from the community, and that many of the volunteers had been with the group for years.

“We also get quite a lot of donations each year for the Heart Foundation without wrapping people’s gifts which is wonderful – and with people coming to look for our stand each year to have a chat, Marg and I don’t need to send Christmas cards to spread the Christmas cheer – we love talking with everyone and are virtually human Christmas cards,” she said.

To donate to the Heart Foundation Holiday Appeal visit campaign.heartfoundation.org.au/together.

BARBARA CAVANAGH, ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

Barbara Cavanagh has been a member of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Rockhampton for more than a decade.

Barbara Cavanagh has been a member of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Rockhampton for over a decade, generously dedicating her time to helping Rockhampton residents experiencing homelessness, poverty and other challenges.

Recently, she has played a major role in supporting the packing and distributing of Christmas hampers full of goodies like food and toys to families and individuals in need across the Rockhampton region.

“Being a volunteer member at St Vincent de Paul, you can really see how real the need is in the community. You’re in a position to be able to help people and you end each day thinking ‘I’ve done something worthwhile’.

“Usually we see about 16 people a day at my local Conference but lately, thanks to the housing and cost of living crisis, we’re seeing closer to 26 a day coming in for help.

“It’s been difficult, affordable housing is really bad in Rockhampton and some of the stories we hear are quite shocking.

“But we still have a good time and it’s great to be able to bond with other people who share your passion for helping the community.

“Most recently I’ve been involved with our Christmas hamper packing, where we’ve packed 184 hampers full of things like food, toys, toiletries and other goods to distribute to people in need around Rockhampton.

“If anyone is thinking of volunteering to help their community, my advice is – give it a go.”

If you would like to learn more about volunteering with the St Vincent de Paul Society, visit https://www.vinnies.org.au/get-involved. 

SUSAN AND GORDON BEGENT

Thousands of people visit Susan and Gordon Begent spend hundreds of hours putting together their Winter Wonderland window display at their house in Forbes Avenue.

It takes two months, hundreds of hours, thousands of pieces and a whole lot of love for Susan and Gordon Begent to bring their winter wonderland to life each December.

The Forbes Ave couple are inundated each Christmas season with thousands of visitors of all ages, all keen for a peek at their Begent Wonderland display in the window of their lounge room.

In 2023 Mr and Mrs Begent will again be collecting donations to raise money for Autism Queensland, a cause close to their hearts.

You can find Begent Wonderland at 51 Forbes Ave, Frenchville.

TAYA KIMBERLEE, YELLOW PAINT INCORPORATED

Taya Kimberlee from Yellow Paint Incorporated.

Taya is Yellow Paint Incorporated’s Events Coordinator, and is leading the organising of the charity’s Free Christmas Day lunch at the Armstrong St Community Garden.

As the event organiser, Taya has collected decorations, organised kids activities, a huge roast lunch thanks to Dawson Road Butchery, and lots of appetizers and deserts lined up from a team of amazing community volunteers she has gathered to support the event.

Taya has told her team that there will also be a surprise Jolly visitor handing out some gifts for the kids attending the event.

In her downtime, Taya works to maintain and improve the Armstrong St Community Garden alongside Garden Manager, CJ, and fundraising to start our organisations big goal of establishing emergency accommodation for those leaving violence.

The Armstrong St Free Christmas Day lunch is open to anyone and everyone in the community and will be held between 11am and 2pm on Christmas Day.