Click here to view the article as seen in Red. Magazine

Michelle Boles went out on a limb six years ago starting Bolzy’s Go4 Services in an attempt to bring back routine to her son’s life after finishing school. Now 25 years old, Ryan is legally blind, non-verbal, has cerebral palsy, autism and rods in is back for repair of kyphosis but is at the helm of a business with help from his mum.

How did Bolzy’s Go4 Services start?

“Once Ryan finished school he had no routine and started to develop severe self-harming behaviour. One night after watching something on TV, we asked Ryan if he wanted a job and he nodded. After that he was adamant he wanted a job so we got in contact with a few people we knew and we started washing tea towels. As time went on people began to ask if we could do other things and we started to think what other needs were in the community. Now I employ two staff, thanks to Queensland Government funding, who work 40 hours a week with Ryan working from 8 o’clock in the morning until 4 in the afternoon.”

What type of work does Ryan do?

“Ryan now collects cans, green waste and household waste. Last year alone he collected 3.5 tonnes of aluminium cans. He also vacuums a few rooms at the stadium for the Cutters and in return they put his logo up at home games. We pick up small pieces of furniture and shift them for customers plus we do freight for Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT). We also fold 500 knives and forks in napkins each week for Mother’s Pantry, sometimes it is 1,000.”

How has the business helped Ryan?

“He isn’t having any bad behaviours and isn’t getting frustrated so much anymore. Before we started the business when he was trying to communicate he would get so frustrated and it was coming out in bad behaviours such as biting, scratching, kicking and now we rarely see anything like that. It makes me feel proud that he actually has that work ethic; he wants to work 7 days a week! With all the hurdles and all the problems he has, Ryan doesn’t let anything stand in his way. It takes a while for him to learn things and to get over those hurdles but we always find a way around it. We work together as a family and include our staff members as much as possible.”

What do you see the future holds for Ryan and Bolzy’s Go4 Services?

“One day I would like to see Ryan get another vehicle as his is now over 200,000km so he will need a new one soon, probably within the next 12 months. But I would also like to employ someone else with a disability to do the jobs that Ryan is too busy to do.”

You have a lot of support from the local community, how has this helped your business?

“When Ryan was younger I was always worried about him getting lost because he goes up to anybody. Now I am not as worried because Ryan is in the community, everybody knows him. It takes a village to raise a child and it is this village that has helped and bonded with Ryan, making him into the person he is today. I can’t thank Mackay enough for embracing him and treating him as an equal. That is all I want for him to be treated the same as everybody else. It makes you proud to say that you come from Mackay.”