Just Say G’Day; The Shack helps tackle rising tensions with clean-ups & a kind word

The Shack Community Centre volunteers from left Sadie Kimball, Scarlet Spencer, Darren Gaudrey, Dale Dowler, Imogene Nguyen, Chloe Gaudry and Katie Gaudry. “If you see someone wearing a ‘Just Say G’Day’ shirt, say g’day and connect”.

by Cameron Outridge

As tensions simmer in Nambour over public safety and homelessness issues, a local charity is doubling down on its efforts to bring people together – one t-shirt, one clean-up and one kind word at a time.

On Monday morning (September 15), The Shack Community Centre led a community clean-up in and around Apex Park.  Volunteers removed rubbish and dismantled an abandoned tent under the rail bridge next to an unregistered and apparently abandoned BMW.

The clean-up and accompanying “Just Say G’Day” t-shirt campaign aimed to promote understanding and community unity.

“When we did our last clean-up, 12 of our homeless community actually helped,” Pastor Dale Dowler said. 

“Now we are having people from that community coming in saying, ‘Listen, we want to continue that clean-up. We want to actually now take some responsibility for the sites that we are on.’”

The t-shirts, featuring a smiley face and the words Just Say G’Day, are part of a broader effort to break down barriers.

“It’s amazing how much difference that makes in someone’s life when they don’t feel they’re separated,” Pastor Dowler said. “When they feel they’re part of the community, they start to see themselves differently.”

Pastor Dowler shared the story of one man who had been homeless for many years, living out of a van.

“He put on his ‘Just Say G’Day’ shirt because it was the first new shirt he’d had in ten years,” Pastor Dowler said. “By the time he went from the end of Currie Street to The Shack, 10 people had said g’day to him – and it made him feel on top of the world.”

Pastor Dowler said the experience highlighted the power of a kind word or small gesture.

“A simple statement can and will make a difference in someone’s life, in a community’s heartbeat,” he said. “We are endeavouring, and of course praying, that we learn to just say g’day.” 

The Shack plans to print at least 100 shirts and give them away to locals and members of the homeless community. In coming weeks, people will start seeing the shirts around town, a visual reminder to connect.

“If you see someone wearing a ‘Just Say G’Day’ shirt, say g’day and connect – they may even shout you a coffee,” Pastor Dowler said.

He is also inviting locals to share positive and inspiring stories on social media to balance the negative narratives that often dominate discussions about homelessness.

“There are so many more voices and stories that are not being shared,” he said. “Stories of lives changed, silent voices, quiet achievers, humble heroes. These are the voices that will bring balance to the sadness that appears to be developing over our awesome community.”

Pastor Dowler said the campaign was not about handouts, but about building pride, dignity and belonging.

“Sometimes it’s the smallest things, like a hello, that remind people they matter,” he said.

At the cleanup, volunteers were issued gloves, hi-vis vests, reaching tools and sharps containers, and were briefed on needle safety protocols. Only one needle was found in the large cleanup.

They were also instructed to be respectful and non-confrontational if any issues arose with people still camped in the area. 

Pastor Dowler said while “our local guys” were usually quite respectful, newcomers to town had been causing some grief to volunteers.

Pastor Dowler was recognised in The Queen’s Birthday 2021 Honours List, with a  Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community.

 For more information, to grab a t-shirt or to get involved at The Shack, visit www.theshackcommunitycentre.com.au or call 5441 5928.