A mother’s love helps daughter find new life after ice addiction THE past five years have been a challenge for Kerrie Knight and her family. As a mother of four teenagers she was always going to feel stressed, but these natural feelings paled into insignificance when the realisation dawned that her daughter, Indya, was an ice addict. Although Indya’s future is anything but certain, she has worked through two stints of extensive drug rehabilitation, and is now making a new life for herself in the Northern Territory. Mrs Knight first spoke publicly at a forum held by Peninsula Voice and Mornington Peninsula Shire attended by 450 guests. The forum generated huge interest in the drug which is largely misunderstood. “Family support is what has kept my daughter alive and our ultimate goal is to build a local support network to help families when things get tough. This is what was missing when I needed help,” Mrs Knight, of Mornington, said. “Drug addiction is an illness that requires long-term treatment – it is not a moral failing.” “Kerrie and Indya’s story is very powerful but, unfortunately, not unique,” Peninsula Voice chairperson Peter Orton said. “Kerrie didn’t choose to have an ice-addicted daughter. She has endured a tough challenge and, as a
Meeting life’s challenges: Kerry Knight at the Peninsula Voice forum.
parent myself, I can’t image how difficult the past five years has been for her and her family. “What is particularly inspiring, though, is how Kerrie has responded. She has decided to do something about it. It is not dissimilar to the story of Rosie Batty taking up the fight for change on family violence.” Mrs Knight said drug addiction was indiscriminate and had nothing to
do with socio-economic conditions, education or background. “Over the past five years Indya has overdosed five times and, based on my experience, she is lucky to still be alive,” she said. “What was lacking in our approach was the knowledge and skill to support her without enabling her addiction. “Simply advising young people
not to take drugs is not the answer: I believe family and community are the key elements to help deliver education, early intervention and harm minimisation.” Mrs Knight believes lack of a family support network is a “huge gap in the community”. “This would provide a chance to debrief and learn the vital skills of how to support our loved ones without enabling them to continue abusing or harming themselves,” she said. “The trauma of drug addiction has a ripple effect on family members; it does impact on their mental health. “Unfortunately, because of the stigma attached to addiction, we don’t feel comfortable talking about it. We fear judgment as a parent – and this has to change. “We need more open conversation, not less.” Peninsula Voice has decided to continue education in the community and will support Mrs Knight in running a series of free addiction education sessions, in conjunction with the national Family Drug Support. Indya features on the official breaktheice.nt.gov.au website advising communities on how they can combat ice addiction. The Mornington Stepping Forward evening education sessions begin Monday 21 March.
Navy spends up THE federal government plans to spend $400-500 million at the HMAS Cerberus naval training at Crib Point. The plans to improve the base are included in the 2016 Defence White Paper. The white paper signalled a $29.9 billion increase Defence spending by “for a total investment of $195 billion over the next decade”, Regional Development Minister Senator Fiona Nash said. Senator Nash said regional businesses would be able to tender “for the supply of goods and services to Defence”.
Poverty talk FIGHTING poverty through education is the subject of a talk by a motivated Australian teacher who founded one of Tanzania’s most successful charity schools. Gemma Sisia will give the free talk at St Mark’s Uniting Church, Barkly St, Mornington, 2.30pm, Sunday 20 March. She will be accompanied by her first graduate, Dorice Livingstone. Register with Wendy Doyle at doyle815@gmail. com or learn more at schoolofstjude. org
Craft fest spins a yarn WESTERN Port Craft Fest, now in its fifth year, will be held at the Hastings Uniting Church Hall, Saturday 9 April. It will feature a range of stalls, local crafts, as well as new crafts, including fabric printing, basketry, hand crafted hats and more. Details: email wpcraftfest@gmail. com, visit the Facebook page or call 5979 1237.
ENROL NOW FOR YEAR 7 2018! Also, limited places for Year 7 2017 have become available at our Rosebud Campus
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