Salvos join the party at Schoolies week
A bunch of young Salvos volunteered with Red Frogs Australia to promote safe "partying" during Schoolies week last year. (Photo supplied by Salvo ‘Red Frogs’ teams)
More than 30 young Salvationists will join hundreds of other Christian volunteers to work with the Red Frogs Australia Chaplaincy Network on the Gold Coast at the annual Schoolies celebrations this month.
Young people from Salvation Army corps’ in both Queensland and NSW will serve during the first week of Schoolies, an event that attracts thousands of school leavers every year.
Serving as part of Red Frogs Australia, the Salvos’ teams will help to create a fun, but safe “partying” atmosphere. The chaplaincy ministry takes its name from the large amount of red frog lollies which teams hand out.
“It’s literally going around to rooms, handing out red frogs, joining whatever parties are happening and cooking them [school leavers] pancakes. We’re just building relationships,” explains Craig Pennell, one of the Salvos’ Red Frogs team leaders from Centenary Corps.
A majority of the Salvos’ teams will be hotel chaplains. They will visit the same hotels every day in order to build relationships with the young people staying there.
“We go to the same rooms every day and hand out call cards so they can ring the call centre [Red Frog hotline] so our team can come to them at any time per their request,” says Craig.
As well as cooking pancakes, the Red Frogs teams go out of their way to ensure young people don’t end up in dangerous situations, and also provide a listening ear.
“Schoolies is this time where people get on the drink too much and probably do things they wouldn’t normally do,” says Joel Campbell, another Red Frogs team leader from Parramatta Corps.
“If things hit the fan, there are people there that they can talk to. Also, there might be someone in the main street who needs help getting back to their room. So anything goes. We’re just about hanging out and helping someone.”
Craig is a huge supporter of Red Frogs and has been volunteering with the organisation for the past eight years. He believes it’s a worthwhile cause for young Salvos to get involved with.
“It’s literally the most humble thing you can do,” he says. “You’re out there cleaning up vomit - it’s not glorious work. As a Salvo, the heartbeat is to help those who can’t help themselves. There’s a lot of that in Schoolies and a lot of helplessness.
“It’s a way for you to get out of a place of comfort. It’s really a hard week, but it challenges you and it refines you.”
Visit au.redfrogs.com for further information about Red Frogs and how to volunteer.
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