Question Time: Jayne Shallcross, Rosies – Friends on the Street CEO
Rosies – Friends on the Street CEO, Jayne Shallcross steps up to answer InQueensland’s 10 questions for your summer reading.
What was your highlight in 2023?
2023 was a year full of ups and down for me both personally and professionally. I welcomed my 4th grandchild, Thomas, in October and said farewell our beloved 17-year-old family dog, Griff. I also had the privilege of celebrating Rosies 35-year milestone birthday with a number of our volunteers and patrons across the year. This milestone comes at a time when we are serving more people than ever but the amazing patrons of Rosies bring a positive outlook, acceptance and appreciation of others, and great gratitude despite the incredible challenges they face. My experiences with our patrons and volunteers, as well as with my grandson and Griff, have taught me to value the little moments, focus on the positive and always be grateful. I hope to carry that with me into 2024.
If you could have done something different this year, what would it be and why?
In July of this year, I attended my first silent retreat — very difficult as I love to have a chat, get to know people and better understand their stories. The retreat was, however, a life changing experience, giving me the time, space and atmosphere to learn and grow as a person, a leader, a parent, and all the other roles that we play in our lives. I wish I would have done it sooner!
Who is someone to watch for in 2024?
Logan based Artist and filmmaker, Jake Moss, is definitely one to watch in 2024. Jake, a former patron of Rosies, collaborated with us to design our first ever line of supporter gear which included t-shirts, tote bags and caps in 2022. Last year he debuted his experimental film Boys Will Be to great critical acclaim winning awards in the Hybridgenre Australia Melbourne Film Awards, AmiCorti Film Festival, Stockholm City Film Festival, London International Monthly Film Festival, Prague International Monthly Film Festival, Rome Primsa Independent Film Awards, Virgin Spring Cinefest, and the Prague International Film Festival. He is currently working on a new film called Hood Safari and is part of a joint exhibition at Mitchell Fine Art in the Valley. I can’t wait to see what 2024 brings for Jake and his career.
What is your most vivid memory of the festive holidays?
I am originally from Chicago, so my most treasured holiday memories are cold! I loved decorating for Christmas, putting up the lights, taking special care with my mother’s treasured ornaments and hearing the memories associated with them. I’ve carried that with me and now do the same with my children, giving them a special ornament each year that is tied to an experience we’ve shared so that when they decorate their own trees each ornament holds a memory. I love when we get the opportunity to decorate together, revisiting old times and creating even more memories for the future – it’s silly and sentimental, but I find such joy in it especially as my children have gotten older and are spread across Australia and overseas.
Do you have any uniquely or funny holiday traditions?
We watch Home Alone and other Christmas movies in the lead up to Christmas Eve and then we bake a Christmas Cookie Tree, but every year the cookie has to be bigger than last year! It has gotten so big that we have to bake it in many sections and then frost it and decorate it together…it seems crazy to run the hot oven when it is so warm out, but we just can’t pass up the opportunity to make the cookie tree each year. It is chaotic with everyone in the kitchen and the Christmas music blaring, but I can’t imagine celebrating Christmas any other way.
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What is your new year’s resolution for 2024?
I am not really a resolution person, I prefer to pick a word or a quote and model my year after the sentiment. For 2024 an older quote from Mother Teresa really resonates me with, “There are no great things, only small things with great love.” That is something I can put into practice with every interaction, it is something I witnessed constantly during the 2023 year when I would see the Rosies volunteers in action. You can make a coffee for someone with great love, you can speak to someone who is having a difficult time with great love, you can help your fellow volunteer pack the van with great love. There is so much that we can do with great love, and I will set that as my intention for 2024 – small things with great love.
If you could have anyone from any time period attend Christmas lunch, who would it be?
My Christmas table would include Julia Gillard, the first female Prime Minister of Australia. My daughter Sophie and I saw her speak earlier this year and even though her time as Prime Minister was surrounded by conflict, I have developed an even greater appreciation of the path that she created for women not just in politics but in education and social inclusion. It was incredible to hear in her own words about what led up to her historic speech in parliament and the challenges that she faced as a woman in politics.
Coastal holiday or city holiday?
While I am a city person, loving the hustle and bustle of a big city, there is nothing better during the holidays than taking some time away at the beach. Byron Bay has become something of a home away from home for our family, we try to all meet up there at least once a year and spend a week enjoying the beach, the cafe culture and of course the unique character of the area with its wonderful mix of people and activities.
What are you looking forward to in 2024?
The 2023 year has seen significant growth in demand for Rosies services with our attendance numbers up by 30%, but many outreaches up by as much as 50%, with so many more people struggling – I look forward to raising the awareness of homelessness and the increasing struggles happening on the street; greater awareness of the amazing and selfless work that the volunteers at Rosies do every day; and, Rosies continuing to grow to serve the increasing number of people who need our services. To help do this, Rosies will for the first time hold an event, the Long Lunch, to raise money to support those we meet on the street. We are so excited to be working with Allessandro from the Westin to ensure a wonderful experience for those who attend and raise some vital funds to support our friends in need.
Do you have a summer book or podcast you can recommend?
You must listen to Unlocking Us with Brene Brown – each episode features a different guest and really gets into some interesting topics. The guests and the host are so vulnerable with each other, they challenge each other and are just wonderful to listen to. I have read all her books, and the podcast is a wonderful extension of her research into emotions and experiences. Its raw and messy and I love it. It really showcases the importance of human connection and our desire to be together, every episode teaches me something that I can apply in my personal life or bring with me into my leadership of Rosies.
