Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

R.U.B.Y. Crew Help At Emergency Shelter

Four dedicated members of the PCYC Bowen R.U.B.Y. Crew had their plans changed in the most dramatic way last week when the floods prevented them from travelling to Brisbane to attend the State Youth Leadership Program.

When many others would have stayed at home feeling sorry for themselves, these four inspiring individuals decided instead to spend the time that they would have spent having fun on the camp with the peers, volunteering at the PCYC emergency shelter instead.

“I am overwhelmed by the sheer amount of support from adults in the community, but you kind of know that will happen,” said Branch Manager Sergeant Michelle O’Regan.

“To have so many inspirational strong young people step forward without even being asked – well, I am so very proud – they’ve been our hands and our feet and have done an amazing job.”

Noah Maltby, Isabella Lote, McKenzie Green and Keeleigh Muir had all been selected to attend the Bornhoffen camp in the Gold Coast hinterland and had been looking forward to enjoying a range of activities with 45 of their peers from across the state.

As the rain began to fall last weekend, however, they all started to worry that their travel plans would be affected and the worst came true when the road to Proserpine was cut-off and the Whitsunday Coast Airport closed.

“We were very disappointed because we had been waiting such a long time for it to be our turn to go,” said Isabella.

“Yeah, I started with the R.U.B.Y. Crew three years ago and I’d been wanting to do this camp since I started,” said Noah.

McKenzie and Keeleigh were together when they received an email saying their flights were cancelled and it was later that day that they went to the PCYC with some supplies to donate.

“When we got there, we could see that there was a lot to do – we went around handing out soaps and bottles of water, cleaning up rubbish and helping serve at the canteen,” said Keeleigh.

“We just wanted to make sure everyone had what they needed.”

Over the course of three days all four R.U.B.Y. Crew members provided invaluable support enabling the PCYC emergency shelter to function and help over 400 people.

R.U.B.Y. Crew stands for (Representing and Uniting Bowen Youth) and consists of around 18 youth who are all aged between 13 and 18.

The Crew are seen everywhere within the community, volunteering their time at events, helping others and actively participating with anything from handing out skates at the weekly Skate Rink event or manning a stall at the local fete.

“I just love helping people and it gives me something to do when I get home from school,” said Noah.

“I moved here during Covid and I was helping my mum set-up at Skating when I met Michelle and she asked if I wanted to join,” said McKenzie.

“I love it so much and it looks great on my resume – in fact, I got my first job through doing this!”

R.U.B.Y. Crew are always looking for new members so, if you have a kind heart and a willingness to help, then talk to Sergeant Michelle O’Regan at the PCYC to see how you can get involved.  

McKenzie Green, Noah Maltby, Keeleigh Muir and Isabella Lote from the R.U.B.Y. Crew helped hundreds of people at the Bowen PCYC emergency shelter. Photo credit: Rachael Smith

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