Rob Ruge

2023 – A Year of Opportunities at North High

Monday 13th Mar

Wow! What a start to the year!

Last Friday marked the completion of my first 2 years of chaplaincy here in Mackay.

Over this time, I have enjoyed incredible growth and development, both personally and in the chaplaincy service we offer.

For the first time in quite a few years, we have been able to resume the STRENGTH Work program for the young men of our school which deals with such topics as: Teamwork and Friendship, Resilience, Work and Meaning, What makes you a man? In an era when our young men are struggling to find their place in the world, this is a program that can give them meaning and purpose.

Next term I’m looking forward to commencing the DRUMBEAT program with our own drums which our school has purchased. It’s been a long road to have this program recognised.

Brekky Club is now more needed than ever, with many families struggling with financial stress.

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Making the most of EVERY opportunity

Tuesday 6th Dec Your support has made a difference!!! As I look back at the year just gone, I am very grateful for all the opportunities that have come my way. In March, VPSS paid for me and one other staff member to do the DRUMBEAT facilitator training and, since then, we have run 2 rounds of the DRUMBEAT program. Last year I was trained as a RAGE facilitator through my high school. All up, between the 2 schools I have run 4 rounds of the RAGE program. Bike Club in the primary school has had a constant flow of participants coming through. So many opportunities to show love, acceptance and kindness to so many young people who are craving after significance and meaning. Thank you for your support. Here's wishing you and yours a very Blessed Christmas. Share

‘Chubby Rob’ & the joys of Bike Club

Friday 2nd Sep

The Bike Club at Victoria Park State School continues to bring me a lot of joy and satisfaction.

Sometimes I get little indications, like the note attached, of how much it means to the kids (FYI- I think it’s meant to read ‘Chappy’ not ‘Chubby’ 😊).

Bike Club brings a sense of belonging…a kind of family…a sense of stability and peace in the midst of turmoil and chaos. Like one student whom I had heard about the previous day that was going through a terrible family upheaval who turned up to my bike club. They came to the club for a few weeks until they could make sense out of the chaos- I think it’s a bit like an oasis.

This is the kind of stuff that your financial contribution to chaplaincy enables. Your contribution makes a difference.

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IT'S CHAPPY WEEK!! - It's the little things that count.

Monday 23rd May At the end of last year I was aware of an older student who had found every day a struggle- just to stay in class was a challenge. If you knew even a tiny bit of their background you would understand why. I knew one of the teachers who would be having a lot to do with them this year, and had noticed that this student was crying out for love- I let the teacher know. This year, after having such a positive interaction with their teacher, this student's behaviour and enjoyment of school has improved dramatically.  Share

2022 - KEEPING IN RYTHM

Friday 22nd Apr I have now another string on my bow- or should I say, a new skin on my drum? Share

Term 3- Finished strong; Term 4- back with a bang!

Friday 8th Oct In my last post, I was seeking sponsors for the upcoming ultra trail run event, the WTF58, which was to be held on the last weekend before the September holidays. I am happy to report that I made the distance! 8hrs 59mins & 33secs. Thank you to those who sponsored me 😊

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A New Challenge- the WTF58

Monday 6th Sep In just 6 days (September 12) I will be running in the WTF58 - the Whitsunday Trail Fest 58km trail run. See https://www.runwhitsundays.com.au/wtf58/ Share

I love my job!

Thursday 19th Aug I saw a student this week who said that their mother had kicked them out and sent them to live with their dad. The student feels that their dad, whom the student's only just started to reconnect with, has started to 'get tired' of them. The student told me they feel worthless. I was able to tell the student that they were 'fearfully and wonderfully made', that they were here on this earth for a purpose and there was a great destiny awaiting them- they just had to discover what that was. When I told the student that out of 7 billion people in the world, they were the only one with their fingerprint, I saw the student look down at their fingers, the lights went on in their eyes and I saw a smile. Share

Building a Chaplaincy Service

Friday 16th Jul It's term 3, and we're off to a strong start. The holidays just gone I spent a few days as a leader at Jump Camp where Yr.7-9 students from a number of schools including Mackay Nth SHS were able to enjoy the great fun, food and fellowship with other kids of faith. Next week, our Breakfast Club at MNSHS moves from 3 days to 5 per week, thanks to extra funding from BHP and OneLife NQ and a number of new volunteers signing on to help from both inside and outside the school community.  Share

Two Schools, One Chaplain

Friday 11th Jun I'm back again 😃 Share

Thankyou to my sponsors

Friday 11th Jun I'm stoked! Thanks to my wonderful sponsors I'm well on the way to reaching my $1000 goal. This support helps me continue in my 3 day capacity at Mackay North High. The NSCP Govt funding covers only about half of that. Share