GOING to work every day is an absolute pleasure for Lifehouse Moree team leader, Casey Ryan – there are too many nice stories and good outcomes for a day at the office to be anything else.
As Lifehouse Op-Shop manager, Casey’s workload – for want of a better word – covers many aspects of community care and fellowship. She liaises with welfare agencies, pensioner groups and church-based charities, as well as individuals and families doing it tough in tough times.
“I have the privilege to lead an amazing group of local volunteers who, like me, share a passion for our community and helping others. We do this with the utmost respect, privacy and confidentiality, and make sure our clients never lose their dignity, no matter what their circumstances might be,” Casey said.
“We all suffer loss, pain, conflict and heartache, and we all have to cover some dry, hard gullies at times, and a helping hand during these times is worth so much.”
Every working day is a blessing, Casey said.
“Seeing people with mountains to climb, who get to the top again and replace tears with smiles and laughter, makes my job so rewarding. Helping people find their strength again – that’s my joy,” she smiled.
Casey said the devastating floods in October, 2022 – the fourth severe weather event of its kind in the Moree district in 11 years – really brought home the true meaning of ‘sense of community’.
“When I saw two foodbank semi-trailers arrive in Moree during the last flood, loaded with water, bread and food packages to feed our community, I cried knowing we helped organise that,” Casey said.
LifeHouse Care Op-Shop team leader, Casey Ryan has been at the Moree store since opening day in 2014.
Volunteers emerged from strictly nowhere and helped distribute much-needed groceries and staples to flood-bound people in outlying areas.
“To work alongside groups like the SES and other volunteer groups, as well as Moree council staff, our then-mayor Mark Johnson and local member at the time, Adam Marshall, was a privilege. There were so many people – so many strangers – all working together to help one another and get the job done,” Casey said.
“That was something in which I was honoured to play a small part, and I’ll always be proud of that.”
Earlier this year, the LifeHouse Care Op-Shop celebrated 10 years’ trade in Moree.
Casey has been manning the counter from day one.
Birthday celebrations were plentiful and heartfelt, and showcased the often unsung and unheralded goodwill generated across the Moree Plains.
“So many people came along and helped out and wished us a happy birthday; it was a very special day, and really showed how generous the people of Moree can be,” Casey said.
“We love our Moree community and feel so privileged to have helped so many people through our op-shop and pantry for the past 10 years.”
Local businesses and individuals gave the op-shop’s birthday bash a helping hand.
“Woolies in Moree donated bread and salads for our barbecue and also supply bread, fruit, vegies and sundries three days a week to give away,” Casey said.
“Gordon Legg, one of our local butchers, dropped in a great big box of hams and said to give them to people who might need them; that was a truly beautiful gesture.
“It’s amazing what some people in this town do for the community, and often without any fanfare or recognition,” Casey said.
Casey Ryan mans the canteen at Moree Boars’ home games. “Casey is very much old-school and hands-on,” says Boars club president Todd Mitchell.
One local lady, a modern-day Florence Nightingale, drops by regularly but rarely buys anything.
Instead, she arrives loaded with goodies and gifts – and leaves empty-handed.
“This wonderful lady, who prefers anonymity, throws a little extra in when she does her own shopping or when she sees items on special that might suit the little packs we put together,” Casey said.
Everyday items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner and soaps, are sorted and packed by Lifehouse volunteers and distributed to patients at Moree Hospital.
“We take them over to the hospital for patients who might have to be flown out at short notice, but don’t have everything they need,” Casey said.
“I’ve often mentioned to her, I’d like people to know who you are but she smiles and says, ‘people not knowing is the best part of giving’.
“Suncorp Bank has food drives for the pantry twice a year – Christmas is a big one – and Canalta farms, on the property Chinook east of Moree, always donate at Christmas time as well,” Casey said.
“There are others who choose to remain anonymous and some even come in to help pack and deliver the hampers and toys.
“We also have local gardeners who bring in fresh fruit and vegetables to add to the free table, and Ben from Moree Chiropractic donates toys through his business for our toy drives,” Casey said.
“Ben once came with me to the Women’s Refuge to deliver goods and staples and to experience for himself just what Moree is really like.”
When not greeting clients and customers at Lifehouse Op Shop, Casey is kept busy volunteering.
In recent years, she was a PCYC volunteer when husband Andrew was club manager, and also involved with Moree Little Athletics and Moree Junior Touch Football Clubs.
Somewhere in between, Casey was secretary for the Ladies Senior Touch Football Club as well.
She now helps Moree Boars Rugby League Club, an organisation she holds close to her heart.
Her son-in-law, Michael Watton, is Boars first-grade captain-coach, so there’s a real sense of family, too.
Casey is the go-to person on game-day, or any day, for that matter. If she’s not flipping steaks on the barbecue, she’s selling raffle tickets and main-game footy doubles.
Moree Boars club president Todd Mitchell said Casey’s contribution to local rugby league is invaluable.
“Casey is very much old-school and hands-on, and volunteers in the canteen on home-game days,” he said.
“It’s getting harder and harder these days to find people willing to help. However, the older supporters seem to understand, and Casey is one of those who knows how hard it is to get help when you need it.
“Casey’s always only a phone call away if we need help. No matter how busy it gets, she’s always got a friendly smile and a warm ‘hello’.
“It would be easier for her to be at home in front of the heater on those cold Sunday afternoons in during the season, but she chooses to be at the football doing her bit for local rugby league – and she’s there from around 10 in the morning until six at night,” he said.
Casey with special care packs made up of donated items. “We take them over to the hospital for patients who might have to be flown out at short notice, but don’t have everything they need,” Casey said.
Casey was recognised for her commitment to the Moree community when named non-Aboriginal Female Elder of the Year at the 2024 Moree Reconciliation Awards ceremony.
“It was a great night, with a powerful message about working together to achieve better community spirit, with respect,” she said.
“There were some moving stories about a need we all share: to make our community a place where people can receive a helping hand and walk forward together.
“We are all are proud to come from the black-soil plains and proud to come from Moree. I guess that’s why we all do what we do.”
Casey spent 30 years in the hospitality game before the opportunity came along to manage the Lifehouse Op Shop in Moree.
“I worked in many different aspects of hospitality, and met some wonderful people and made lifelong friendships. We’ve shared life’s journey through laughter and tears, and working in the industry helped me understand people and their personal battles,” she said.
Casey and husband Andrew – they married in 1989 – travelled and worked across much of eastern Australia during their formative years.
The family has grown considerably during that time, with children Curt, Jaimie-Lee, Codie, Daniel and Ashleigh – as well as grandchildren Utah, Colt, Kauai, Remy, Brooklyn, Archie and Issobella – all instilled with the same community spirit and values that have guided Casey and Andrew over the years.
After working and travelling up and down the coast, they returned to Moree in the 1990s – the community heartbeat drew them back.
“We both know travelling and working is wonderful, but Moree is home,” Casey said.
Andrew worked in the grain industry for several years and also managed Moree PCYC for six years.
In 2013, while under Andrew’s watch, the club was awarded Best PCYC in NSW.
He now runs his own gardening and lawn-care business and helps Casey whenever called to the frontline.
For Andrew and Casey Ryan, the black-soil plains will always be home.
“We were both born in Moree and have lived in places like Bundaberg in Queensland, and Coffs Harbour and the central coast in New South Wales.
“But after being away for a few years, we both know life-long friendships are born here – when people in Moree say ‘hi, how are you going’, you know they mean it,” Casey said.
Words and Images: Bill Poulos
Casey O’brien is one of the unsung angels of this community , she works tirelessly , she is kind , considerate and deserves every bit of recognition she gets . People need to know about her and her achievments , Casey is such a huge asset to Moree , thankyou so much Casey x