Stories

Craig Black owns Black Toyota dealership

Black Toyota has a long and proud history with SU Qld.

“Having grandchildren coming through around the ages of 8 and 9, I started thinking about how I could get involved in helping young people. I just believe young people today really need a helping hand. And I think school chaplains are doing a great job in this area. Chaplains are doing a good job and they need a hand. So I’ve put up my hand to help.

We’ve been sponsoring SU Qld strongly for a few years now. I’m 100% in support of what SU Qld is doing with young people. Let’s keep it going! “

Rod from McDonald’s

Every year during Chappy Week in May, McDonald’s Bracken Ridge in Brisbane runs ‘McChappy Week’. Many other McDonald’s restaurants around Queensland also run McChappy Week (or McChappy Day) to support local school chaplains. The franchise
owner at Bracken Ridge, Rod Chiapello, shares his story…

SU Qld: Rod, why do you support school chaplaincy?

Rod: “Firstly I’ve got five kids and appreciate the need to support our younger generation. Secondly, I know kids in schools experience some real life challenges and difficulties. School chaplains are available and skilled in meeting the emotional, spiritual and practical day-to-day needs of our young people. Students don’t see the chaplains as being in positions of authority within the school structure and are much more comfortable sitting down with chaplains and confidentially talking about their problems.

Everyone speaks highly of the school chaplains I know in this area — from the principals to the teachers and business community. That encourages me to support chaplaincy programs. They deliver great outcomes for kids in need.

Being a parent is tough, and being a teacher is tough. So having a circuit breaker somewhere along the line — where kids can talk to someone they believe is nonjudgmental and who they can trust — is extraordinarily important for kids, and for parents and teachers as well.”

John Lawson is an assistant leader…

“I’ve been an assistant leader on three SU Qld camps with at-risk kids over the past year. Young people need good solid adult mentors to help them through the issues of life that they’re facing. SU Qld camps instil in young people things like honesty, trust and teamwork. I’m passionate about helping young people. That’s why I help out on these camps and that’s why I am a regular financial supporter of SU Qld.”

Andrew is a financial supporter…

“My first SU Qld camp deeply influenced my outlook on life throughout high school.  The leaders at SU Qld camps and Schoolies Week had a profound impact on me.  I soon realised I wanted to be an SU Qld camp leader and have the same impact on other young people.

Today I continue to be committed to the work of SU Qld…  Why do I donate to SU Qld?  Because they play a part in changing young lives every day…”

John is an SU Qld financial supporter.

“My connection with SU Qld began as a camper on the SMADD (song, music, art, drama and dance) camp when I was in grade 8. I enjoyed it so much that I kept going every year. I built great friendships and saw this camp as an important part of my high school life.  Which is why, after finishing school, I continued on as a leader. Today I’m directing this great camp.

What I have noticed is that kids’ lives are tough… and getting tougher.  Yet it’s exciting to see what a difference SU Qld camps are making in these young lives over a series of years. Why do I donate to SU Qld?  Because if I and others don’t give, then all these great changes in young people’s lives would not happen.  I want to be a part of making sure great things keep happening for kids.”

Anonymous

“We began to give to SU Qld several years ago. We saw that we were not people who could reach young people ourselves to any worthwhile degree. We heard a chaplain speak at church and we thought it was a great idea to put people that students could relate to into the schools.  We had no idea at the time who organised this program, but knew we wanted to give to it. A short time later we heard an advertisement on Radio 96.5 FM that SU Qld were the ones responsible, so my wife rang up to make a donation. 

We were always asked when we gave, “Where should the funds be appropriated to?”  We had no idea. We just thought it best to leave it in the hands of those who would see the needs and shortfalls better than us. We have since learned that the money we give helps to support the office staff behind the chaplains, which we are thrilled about. They do a great job organising such a huge program…”

Anonymous

“I first connected with  SU Qld in 1994 helping our local school chaplain with some after school programs.  It was great to see first hand the important work of support that so many young people needed.  From there I have had the privilege to be involved in a number of SU Qld camps and beach missions and to work in schools through the great work of SU Qld.  I support this great work, because if SU Qld wasn’t here it would be a world of far less for many young people.”

Anonymous

“I come from a broken family and never really had much of a life. I started to speak to my school chaplain, Nathan Grady, on a regular basis and he asked me to go on one of the holiday camps SU Qld runs. I went and made loads of new friends – I completely came out of my shell. I went to Nathan and Danielle Lee – our other school chaplain – and was talking to them and Danielle invited me to her youth group at the time she was a leader there. After going once she invited me again and again until I was going without her having to invite me.

If it was not for Danielle and Nathan, I still would have been going down the wrong path. They also invited me to Splash Out camp, which they directed. It was then that I realised how powerful God’s Word is… and I wanted more. By this time I had believed in God and was attending youth and church more, but I wasn’t completely into it – I still had my doubts. I went back to them and was talking to them and I so badly wanted what they had in their lives.

I’m now extremely passionate about God and have never really been able to thank Nathan and Danielle for what they did in my life. If it wasn’t for school chaplaincy, I would not be doing as well as I am today. Yes, I still have bad days, but because of the relationship that I formed with them, I know that I can count on them… to go and tell them things confidentially. SU Qld really is bringing hope because they brought it to me by placing people like Nathan and Danielle and many other amazing chaplains in my school community.”

Pearl

“I thank God for SU Qld’s ministry to my children. Please send up an arrow prayer for my 3rd child. Thank you. I am a great grandmother who prays for your ministry. Hebrews 13:8.”

Greg & Shirley

“The chaplain at Roma TAFE College introduced our daughter to SU Qld camp, schoolies week and leadership camps. We are thankful for the help she has received and we trust our donation will help other children to find real meaning to life.”

Anonymous

“My first connection with SU Qld?  An SU Qld staff worker – Wendy Strachan – visited me once a term when I was a shiny new teacher straight out of teacher’s college.  I was away from my family and friends and had no idea what I was doing.  I was involved with an SU schools group in the school where I was teaching.  Her visits helped me to hang in there.

I have been donating to SU Qld for nearly 20 years.  I believe they are at the cutting edge of youth and children’s work in Australia. School Chaplaincy provides an almost unbelievable opportunity for local churches… who are able to provide support and care to state school communities through involvement with School Chaplaincy.

There is an amazing collection of committed, talented, experienced people involved with SU Qld – both volunteers and staff.  The knowledge and expertise they represent can’t be bought. If you’re not on board – get on board!  I can’t think of a better way to invest in the future of our young people.”

Alana Klein

“The first time I got involved with SU Qld was on a holiday camp for primary school children in Year 6. However, of what I can remember, the camp that pulled me in and grabbed my attention was SMADD camp when I was in Year 8. SMADD was an AMAZING environment to be in… Everyone just loved it and we all made so many friends that we still stay in touch and get to see both inside and outside of camp, which occurs 2 times a year – not often enough, we all say! I have now been on 9 SMADDS, and this SUMMER I am enrolled to lead alongside so many friends my age who are leading also.
I finished school in 2008, and chose to go on Backflip ‘08 to the Whitsundays. BEST EXPERIENCE EVER! I made SO many friends there and we had an absolute blast. The food was terrific, the ammount of freedom was perfect, and the atmosphere was just lovely to be in. We all had one of the best times of our lives there together, and I am sure that we will remain friends for life. Other friends came back from the Gold Coast Schoolies, and it became clear within two seconds that it wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be. Most of them actually didn’t like it and were jealous I got to go on SU Qld’s Backflip schoolies event.
SU Qld – thank you for running such great programs to get us involved. You’re doing an amazing job and I look forward to being part of your camp leadership team!”

Anonymous

“We have been supporting SU Qld for many years as we had two daughters and knew the peer pressure young people have while in school. Our daughters had Christian parents and a church family to support them and we wanted to know that we could play a small part in helping other young people find Jesus and a family who would support them.”

Penny Smith

“I still have a copy of Junior Notes March/April and May/June 1955 given to me by a parish worker where I grew up in rural Sussex, England.  When I settled in Pine Rivers area (in Brisbane’s northern suburbs) I renewed my interest  in Bible reading notes and acted as SU Qld rep in my local parish for several years.  I give thanks for that lady who encouraged me to love  The Bible and for SU Qld chaplains in their vital work with young people.”