“We started with 4 of us in my shed at home and it grew so much we have a shop in Casino called TCL [Toys Change Lives.) We are self funded. We got a grant from United and then QBE saw our stall at the Lismore Carboot and have been helping us out for 3 years. Last year was going to be our big break out year but then Covid floored us and we were out of business for 9 months of the year. We don’t owe any money but we need to start paying wages again. All the youths that work here get paid a wage.
When they leave detention we teach them how to work initially. We have people who cut out the toys, sanding, painting, finishing off and sales. They learn retail, customer service, etc. We help them get jobs. A lot of boys have now got jobs. Not all our Indigenous youth are into woodworking so we have found another learning pathway that has sparked interest and that’s Screen-Printing which we call Deadly Threads. The project will cover T-shirts, fabric lengths, soft furnishings, wearable art and paper prints. We also have other plans for repairing bikes.
The big issue is these kids become a burden on the tax payer when they’re in detention. For a year inside it cost half a million dollars for one person because there’s a school in there as well. When they get out they are actually paying tax because they are being paid a wage.
When Covid hit and we lost all our markets and the grants all dried up. We didn’t have an income so we couldn’t employ them. We desperately need some money to keep going. We’ve applied for grants this year and the overall plan is to be 75% self sufficient.
All the boys who’ve gone through the program and left still call in and keep contact and because most have come from disadvantaged background they treat me like family. There’s one fella who puts me down as his next of kin when he fills out forms. He’s Aboriginal and I’m not but I go visit them when they’re inside. One of the boys we had here, Nick is his name is now a fully qualified youth worker. I’ve taken him down to ACMENA as a kind of apprentice. He’ll do a better job than me because he can walk the talk. He’s been in the same spot as those boys.
At the moment they aren’t getting locked up because of Covid. The numbers are down which is good in one way but by the same token they may be getting into more trouble. I’ve noticed some of the boys deliberately try and get in there because the home situation is no good. They get fed 3 meals a day, they can go to school and they get support. It’s all about education and employment. We can teach them employment here. We only afford to pay them 20 hours a week but they can spread that over 5 days if they want to.
I couldn’t do this without my wife Jan. She still has chronic illnesses but she is my PA. I’m still doing a bit of Pastoring in churches but I’m not looking after a congregation. Still go out to Bonalbo once a month. I’ve done 22 ANZAC services out there. Last year I got an Australia Day Award for Citizen of the Year which was pretty special.”
Footnote – I will attach the link to TCL’s fundraising but please visit their shop if you can. I bought some beautiful wooden gifts there and have included some pics I took in the shop. They also have an online shop. It’s a gallery of handmade toys, gift cards, beautiful Indigenous artworks, wooden jewellery, didgeridoos and T-shirts. TCL is located at 112 Walker St Casino. I also wanted to add a couple of testimonials from some of the boys. I hope you can help. xx Denise
Taye – ‘I want to thanks TCL for all the help an encouragement they have given me during some personal difficulties and mentoring to get me through a tough time with the justice system. I plan to work hard to prove myself and to others that I will be a valuable member of the community and my culture. Pete has given me opportunities that other people would not. He’s changed my life a lot of ways. If I was in the worst he’d be the one to lift me back up. You don’t get much people that loves, cares and believes in a person than him.’
Callum – ‘I was in ACMENA in 2018. My life was hard and going downhill after my father passed away in 2012 when I was 10 years old.When I got out I went to rehab for 3 month. Then Pastor Pete offered me a job at Toys Change Lives. Since then my life has changed heaps for the better. I am keen to learn all I can so I can have a better life and I’m around people who know what it’s like to make mistakes and try again. I’m now working in construction which was my dream when I met Pete.’