JourneyOnline
Ronda Downs, by day Housewife and loving Mother, but place a puppet on her left and right arm and she becomes a star to children all across the Burdekin.
Ms Downs, along with Gwen Marshall and Uniting Church Minister Paul Clark, has recently completed their whirlwind seven day, 17 school, 21 performance tour of every primary school in the Burdekin with their show, You Are Special“.
The presentation aimed to lift the self-esteem of students with the message that they are special; loved and created by God.
The show featured videos made by local year seven students in Religious Education; a fabulous Puppet Play about Dr. Marylin Munro, a shady Fabric Surgeon who for one millions dollars can make you look like ‘everyone else has always wanted you to look’; and a touching story by Max Lucado.
Bringing this show turned Housewife Ronda into a star.
“They wanted her autograph and some kids even told us they had seen us on television.” said fellow puppeteer Rev Paul Clark.
“It’s great to watch the young kids so excited by the singing and puppets, and then the older kids, some of whom think they are now too old for puppets, unexpectedly engage and concentrate.
“You can see them suddenly realise, ‘they are telling my story’.”
“Ronda and Gwen are both stars in my books. They devote two solid weeks of their lives, for free, to bring hope to a new generation.
“Kids need adult affirmation – doing that can turn any housewife, husband or has-been into a star,” Mr Clark said.
Photo : Ronda Downs, Paul Clark and ‘the cast’ with students from Millaroo State School, Conner Cavallin, Hannah Soper, Lachlan Cavallin and Jacob Kenniff. Photo by Gwen Marshall
