By Tony Thomas
Kerry Kirk, cybersecurity businesswoman and last year’s president of Sunbury Rotary Club, enjoyed a tour backstage at Broadmeadows Police Station. Chatting as mentor to Senior Sergeant Brad Towers, she agreed that police ”were never going to arrest their way out of the drug-addiction problem”. That’s how they got thinking about a hidden group needing support – the parents of offspring who are battling addictions.
These parents are often withdrawn and nervous. Support services focus on the addicted person while parents typically bear their strife and heartache unaided.
Kerry and Brad were one pair in a Rotary-led Victorian Police Leaders’ Mentoring Program, now in its 13th year and covering four Rotary districts 9800, 9820, 9780 and 9790.
They told the graduation breakfast run by Rotary Central Melbourne on September 17 about how they brought parents together for a meeting called “You Are Not Alone.” They explained community resources and inspired them with speakers confiding their own struggles and successes. Parents got answers to their distress call – “We don’t know who to turn to!”
Brad, a 30-year police veteran, said they marketed the forum throughout the Macedon Ranges and from Sunbury to Broadmeadows. But up to the last minute they didn’t know if any parent would show up. Police and the drug scene are not always a comfortable mix and many parents want to stay unknown. Happily, about 50 parents turned up on the Tuesday evening to hear the eight speakers. “Someone said, ‘We’re all parents here’ and we felt the tension in the room relax because people felt they wouldn’t be judged,” Brad says. Two parents burst into tears afterwards and one said, “If we’d had this help ten years ago we wouldn’t be in our predicament.”
Speakers included Mark Eustice, a former AFL footballer who conquered post-footie addictions, and the manager of an ice-addiction clinic who’s had more than half a dozen referrals since the forum. A speaker from the Family Drug Help group also got a good hearing.
These parents are often withdrawn and nervous. Support services focus on the addicted person while parents typically bear their strife and heartache unaided.
Kerry and Brad were one pair in a Rotary-led Victorian Police Leaders’ Mentoring Program, now in its 13th year and covering four Rotary districts 9800, 9820, 9780 and 9790.
They told the graduation breakfast run by Rotary Central Melbourne on September 17 about how they brought parents together for a meeting called “You Are Not Alone.” They explained community resources and inspired them with speakers confiding their own struggles and successes. Parents got answers to their distress call – “We don’t know who to turn to!”
Brad, a 30-year police veteran, said they marketed the forum throughout the Macedon Ranges and from Sunbury to Broadmeadows. But up to the last minute they didn’t know if any parent would show up. Police and the drug scene are not always a comfortable mix and many parents want to stay unknown. Happily, about 50 parents turned up on the Tuesday evening to hear the eight speakers. “Someone said, ‘We’re all parents here’ and we felt the tension in the room relax because people felt they wouldn’t be judged,” Brad says. Two parents burst into tears afterwards and one said, “If we’d had this help ten years ago we wouldn’t be in our predicament.”
Speakers included Mark Eustice, a former AFL footballer who conquered post-footie addictions, and the manager of an ice-addiction clinic who’s had more than half a dozen referrals since the forum. A speaker from the Family Drug Help group also got a good hearing.
Kerry says, “We put about 150 hours work into it but our club’s only cost was $200 for venue hire.”
VicPol Assistant Commissioner Kevin Stacey, himself a mentoring graduate, says the program is VicPol’s longest sustained leadership development course. It links Senior Sergeants, who typically manage a suburban station, with Rotarians skilled in business and community initiatives.
VicPol Assistant Commissioner Kevin Stacey, himself a mentoring graduate, says the program is VicPol’s longest sustained leadership development course. It links Senior Sergeants, who typically manage a suburban station, with Rotarians skilled in business and community initiatives.