It was during his time at schoolies in Torquay that former Cobram local Hayden Mustica really saw the value of the volunteer program.
“I’d heard of them, but I just thought, ‘oh, that’s something they do up in Queensland’,” he said.
“But then, experiencing them first hand and seeing the kind of impact that they had on my friends, I was like, I see the vision now.
“So I went back home after that, talked to members of our church, and then we decided to get involved the next year in a more practical sense, as opposed to just contributing financially. So, I was kind of the conduit for the church to get involved in a practical sense.”
Hayden grew up attending Cobram Church Riverside, part of the International Network of Churches.
Red Frogs, formed in 1997 out of the perceived need for designated sober people at large parties and drinking events, is an arm of the network the Cobram church is part of, founded by the then youth pastor at Citipointe Church in Queensland, Andy Gourley.
Known for its mission of supporting, servicing and safeguarding young people, and for its presence at schoolies events and festivals, Red Frogs equips its young volunteers with what they need to act as a positive peer presence.
Hayden initially volunteered in the program at Torquay for a few years, but it was when he was aiding school-leavers in Byron Bay that the Cobram church really got behind the cause.
“Four ladies from the Cobram church drove up to Byron Bay, brought a bunch of resources that were donated by the local fruit shops, the butchery in Tocumwal, and that sort of thing, so it was directly involved there, as well as the monetary input that the church had,” he said.
Although the youth presence at the Cobram church is still growing, Hayden said the Red Frogs had “a 100 per cent volunteer rate of those able to volunteer from the Cobram church, which was two in the last few years, and then three”.
And while the Red Frogs’ volunteer locations are far from town, its mission aligns closely with that of the local church.
“To me, Red Frogs, boiled down, is what we want to see the modern-day church doing, which is simply just being out, physically being out there, serving the community in ways that the community needs to be served,” he said.
“Red Frogs is a way that young people can practically apply what the church should be ... It doesn’t matter what your background is, or where you’re from, or your views, Red Frogs are there simply to help when help is needed, to be a shoulder to lean on, or an ear to listen.
“The Cobram church, right now, has a cooking program, so every Monday, they are cooking 70 to 80 meals for people that are in need. The church is kind of doing these things that we champion Red Frogs for.
“It’s just highlighting, if you’re a person who loves the idea of Red Frogs ... If you contribute to the church, you can kind of do what Red Frogs is doing, but on a local level.”
With schoolies celebrations set to be held across the country, Red Frogs volunteers will soon be attending the many Australian party hotpspots, highlighting the value of young people serving young people.
For more information on volunteering, visit tinyurl.com/mvted2bs
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