13 hours ago
Foster mum Roylene Robinson now helps those in need in cost-of-living crisis
For Roylene Robinson, raising hundreds of children has been challenging but "very rewarding".
For almost half a century, she has been a foster mum.
"Mother's Day is a very, very big day," the 76-year-old said.
"It's either the phone ringing or you've got emails or you've got messages or you've got people calling in … I find it very, very rewarding on Mother's Day."
Ms Robinson has fostered 280 children over the past 47 years in her humble Rockhampton home in central Queensland.
She also has four children of her own.
The single carer said love and encouragement were two of the most important things a parent figure could offer a foster child.
Ms Robinson dedicates her life not just to children, but to everyone in need.
The doors to her charity store, Moo and Coo, open at 10 each morning and within a few minutes, it's always a hive of activity.
"Everything's cheaper, much cheaper and it's like the original op shops," she said.
"This is what op shops were years ago where people could come in find what they need and have a cup of tea.
Ms Robinson is the heart and soul of the not-for-profit organisation that provides essentials like food, clothing and furniture to people in need.
"This is a quiet morning. Saturdays [and] Wednesdays are much, much bigger," she said.
With the nation in the grips of a cost-of-living crisis, Ms Robinson says many residents, particularly those on lower incomes, are struggling to afford basic needs like food, fuel, rent and electricity.
While the state and federal governments are taking steps to address the issue, the situation remains challenging for many.
"We do care packages, food packages, clothing, kitchen packs, baby packs for the hospital, so we do everything that we can, right now blankets and everything to keep the needy warm and fed," Ms Robinson said.
"We quite often heat up the meals for the people off the street and give them a knife and fork."
Laurel Mason is a social worker who regularly brings her clients — mainly those sleeping rough on the streets — to Ms Robinson's store.
Ms Mason admitted she had even experienced challenges in meeting increased cost-of-living expenses in recent times.
"I know even for myself, I've used Roylene's shop at one point when I wasn't working, so it was a great help to me at that time," she said.
According to a survey of 3,600 people who had accessed assistance from The Salvation Army, 90 per cent reported it was difficult to afford essential living costs, such as housing, groceries, medical care and utilities over the past 12 months.
The 2025 Red Shield report also found 70 per cent of respondents said cost of living was their biggest challenge in the past year while 87 per cent of households with children were living below the poverty line.
Ms Robinson said she had noticed a huge increase in demand for essential items such as clothing.
"The cost of living is happening to everybody," she said.
"People are finding rents high, food prices have gone up, your petrol has gone up."
