“The increase in the use of the drug ice is an issue that is cutting some regional communities down at the knees and we’re not going to see it happen here.”
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These were the words of Young’s mayor John Walker in urging all members of the Young community to attend a public gathering at Young Town Hall on June 5.
The mayor said he recently attended a well supported ice forum in Gundagai on May 14 where more than 600 people packed Gundagai High School Hall to hear from health professionals, former users, police drug specialists and paramedics.
“It was astonishing to see so many people at that meeting and how concerned they were for their own small community and how prepared they were to share information and learnings to tackle this thing as a community,” he told The Witness.
“We’re in the fortunate position of being able to see what is happening in other regional communities in Australia with this insidious drug - we’re recognising it as a social issue in every town and we can use this to our benefit.
“We need to educate the community now to beware of the implications of using ice before it gets a hold.”
The June 5 local meeting has been organised by Young High School in conjunction with Young Shire Council and features guest speaker reformed drug dealer Tony Hoang.
Tony Hoang grew up in the drug capital of Australia and was a gang member and drug dealer for almost a decade.
With 13 friends, six of whom were murdered, Tony became compelled to share his story in the hope of inspiring youth off the path of destruction he was once on.
His story has featured on television shows Gangs of Oz and Once Upon a Time In Cabramatta.
Now a chaplain and youth worker, today his life is devoted to helping young people avoid drug addiction and crime.
At last Wednesday’s council meeting, deputy mayor Ben Cooper - in asking for council’s support of the June 5 event - said Young High School had paid $2000 to bring Tony to speak to students at the school.
He said the school wanted to offer the entire community the chance to hear his important message.
“He’s a motivated speaker who focuses on engaging with the community to help people break free of the the destructive cycle he was once trapped in,” Cr Cooper said, “he recognises the pain and destruction it can have on a community.
“Tony’s presentation is about his life, the importance of reengaging with our youth and to try and put that message out there that drugs really do destroy communities and to provide our youth with ways of perhaps having alternative lifestyles,” Cr Cooper said.
He said it was a message the entire community needed to hear.
Entry to the forum is free of charge and all members of the public are welcome.
A light supper, prepared by Young High School students, will be served at 6.30pm and the guest speaker commences at 7pm.
Cr Cooper said he would be running a community shuttle bus from YNPS to bring people with no cars from that part of town to cover all target markets.
