As a fourth generation Beenleigh local with his hands in many community honey pots, well-known school chaplain Nick Carroll is on a mission to spread love and positivity for his hometown.
His Beenleigh family legacy dates back to 1890 and Nick is the chaplain at Beenleigh State High School and Eagleby State School, the vice president of a rugby league club he co-founded, runs many mental health programs, runs a suicide awareness week, and has a facebook page focused on Beenleigh history.
Fondly known around the Beenleigh community as Chappy Nick, he hasn’t always wanted to work as a school chaplain.
“I got to a point where I hit my own version of rock bottom at around 22 years old and had my own spiritual awakening and I just wanted to give back,” he said.
“Other than in churches I wanted to do it in the community. A community that I had caused harm in; my own community.
“I never left my hometown.
“I ended up getting into community development work and youth work.”
Co-founding the Eagleby Giants Junior Rugby League Football Club is something Chappy Nick is particularly proud of.
“In 2010 we found a lot of youth in our community just didn’t want to try at anything,” he said.
“They were just saying, oh we’re from Eagleby so why bother.
“They just ruled out university, ruled out careers, and ruled out success so early in their lives.
“We thought if we created something to change the culture in the community then we could raise the standards and say hey thrive where you are.
“You can dream big and live a large life of happiness and success, right here where you already live.
“Then when you become successful in your hometown it will rub off on the people around you and the standards of the community are raised.
“We thought, well if it’s a rugby league club they’re going to put on a jersey with their hometown written on their chest and they’ll be representing their community every weekend so then they’re going to start to love their community and have community spirit.
“They’re going to look after their community and they’re not going to damage it and graffiti it.”
Chappy Nick said he believes their plan is working.
“It’s working and we’ve already won three grand finals and Brisbane Rugby League Club of the Year out of 86 clubs,” he said.
“That’s just raising the standards of our community even more now.
“If you’re serving your community you’re going to take care of it more.”
