In April 2018 I became a member of the Orange Sky Australia (OSA) team here in Mackay. OSA is the world’s first free mobile laundry service for people experiencing homelessness – an idea founded in a Brisbane garage by two 20-year-old mates over five years ago. Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett installed a couple of washing machines and dryers in the back of their old van, visiting parks in Brisbane to wash and dry clothes for free. With an aim to improve hygiene standards and restore dignity to people doing it tough, they stumbled on something much bigger and more significant – the power of a conversation.  

  When starting out, Nic and Lucas were so focused on making the machines work, that they had not considered what would follow. After getting the washing machines and dryers going, they found that there was nothing else to do but chat with the friends waiting for their clothes. This is where the magic of Orange Sky really started to happen. In the hour it takes to wash and dry clothes, we sit and talk with our friends. It is no longer about the laundry. It is about the genuine and non-judgmental conversations we have about everyday things. This is why the most important thing in our van isn’t the washing machines, dryers, generator or water tanks. It’s the six orange chairs. It is on these chairs, that our mission to Positively Connect Communities was born.

 The song, Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch has been a major inspiration behind this project. "In your love, my salvation lies" and "I had a dream I stood beneath an orange sky, with my brother standing by" are lyrics from the song. The entire message of the song is about helping our brothers and sisters. These values are imperative to Orange Sky and central to the project.

Orange Sky relies on the community to fund everything we do from washing and drying our friends’ laundry, to the capital costs of getting an Orange Sky van out on the road. Of course, OSA could not operate without the support of volunteers and people kindly donating their time and skills. At every Service Location, volunteers donate their time on shift and ensure that the van and service is operational.

There are 27 Vans, including hybrid and shower vans, operating in 23 cities across Australia and New Zealand. All the vans have on-board clean and grey water storage, along with a power generator. Over the past few years, OSA has been able to respond to a number of major weather events/natural disasters and help people experiencing temporary homelessness. We have washed and dried more than 12 tonnes of free laundry in locations from the Great Ocean Road in Victoria up to Bowen in North Queensland.

 Since Orange Sky came to Mackay in October 2017, 628 shifts have operated and the team of volunteers have completed over 1,375 washes. The Mackay van has two 10kg washers and dryers that allow 20kg of washing every hour and it’s during this time Orange Sky can make its biggest impact by fostering non-judgemental conversations. At the moment the Mackay Orange Sky team operate 6 shifts a week.  Each shift runs for 2 -3 hours and at present all but one shift operates in the morning.  Service locations include Sarina Neighbourhood Centre, Slade Point Medical Centre, CASA (Community Accommodation and Support Agency), George Street Neighbourhood Centre, St Vincent de Paul, Juliet Street and ADRA Op Shop in Milton Street.

 While the service offers much needed practical assistance to those who have fallen on tough times, I have been humbled by the way the people who use the service are so open in sharing their struggles. Each time I am on shift I can’t help but think of the words of Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, – “There are things the poor prize more highly than gold, tho’ they cost the donor nothing; among these are the kind word, the gentle, compassionate look, and the patient hearing of their sorrows”.

 Orange Sky has a social media presence on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. We encourage people to follow us and to engage with us in these forums. This is a great way to continue to follow the work that we do and also to start or continue a conversation with your friends, family and colleagues about Orange Sky and our Friends. If you would like to know a little more about OSA visit our website: https://orangesky.org.au

Sr Kerry-Anne Sullivan rsm