GUEST SPEAKER:

Peter Marfleet introduced James Hoffman.

“This evening we are about to shine the light of the dark corner of addiction the illness we would prefer to leave others to cure.

When confronted by personal circumstance we realise how severe the problem of addiction is to our community. It is not only about those that fall by the wayside, but also the price we pay by allowing addicts to be exploited by unscrupulous individuals, seeking gain from the misery they inflict.

James Hoffman, our speaker this evening, is the Operations Manager of Shalom House Rehabilitation Centre located in the Swan Valley which is hailed as the strictest rehabilitation centre in Australia.”

James declared that he was a reformed Meth Addict and Dealer spoke about the Shalom House programme.

Australia is the third largest user of Meth in the world. Western Australia is renowned as the Meth capital of Australia where 1.8 tonnes (or one-shot week per week Australian) of Meth was consumed last year.

All people are affected by addiction depression or anxiety, these are not a disease but simply a condition to be managed. Meth addiction is a choice, not a disease. Classifying addiction as a disease moves responsibility from the addict to the community. Bad choices leading to an addictive behaviour have disastrous knock-on effects for their families and friends.

The philosophy of the programme is to recreate the individual not to be rehabilitated.

Shalom House not only assists addicts to break their habit, it also assists families affected by addiction.

The method used at Shalom House is very effective, it provides tough love in a Boot Camp environment.  The patients can remain at Shalom House from 12 to 24 months so long as they comply strictly with the rules and requirements of the programme. At the end of the programme, clients are released into the Community where they receive ongoing support.

Clients are not allowed the use of phones or enjoy cigarettes or drink while that Shalom House. Shalom House accommodates 140 men in 11 properties.  It employs six full-time staff and has 35 volunteers. Although it is a Christian organisation Shalom House accepts anyone.

The treatment programme includes engaging the patients with work in the community in a small business's established by Shalom House, the income from which assists in supporting its operations. The organisation is proud to declare that it does not rely on government support.

Many of the volunteers working in the refuge are reformed Meth addicts and dealers who have graduated from the programme and are more than willing to give others the opportunity to recover and restore their lives.

The operations conducted by Shalom House are not necessarily welcomed by the City of Swan in whose locality the premises are located. The City has repeatedly refused applications to rezone the properties to "Community Use".  This has resulted in several hearings before the State Administrative Tribunal, presenting an unwanted distraction to the team leaders.

The Shalom Community provides coping mechanisms for people who want to change their addictive ways and is also developing ways to prevent people from taking up the habit in the first place. The Community supports the education of young people to inform them not to set out on the path of Meth use, it is also lobbying Governments to change the way in which addicts are treated, to understand the undesirable impact of incarceration particularly on minor criminals and young people.

Government support is not being effectively directed at the problem. James maintains that self-funded rehabilitation is the way to go.

The Shalom House programme relies on public donations and the work that men in the programme take on voluntarily in the numerous small businesses which they have established. This also helps the men to keep busy.

The Shalom House Community relies on limited professional support but does have access to voluntary doctors psychologists and councillors.

Members of the Rotary Club of Dalkeith can help by providing their business experience and business contacts on the occasions when professional advice is required by Shalom House.

FUTURE EVENTS: President David reminded members of the future club events.

September 30   RLI2       8.30am – 2.30pm

October 7          RLI3        8.30am – 2.30pm

18^th October     Business Lunch

27 October       Coin Collection

10 November   Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

8 December     Christmas Soiree

 February 3       RLI 1         8.30am – 2.30pm

February 17      RLI 2         8.30am – 2.30pm

March 10          RLI 3          8.30am – 2.30pm

CLOSE:

President David thanked:

·James Hoffman for his presentation and presented him with a Rotary Fruitcake;

·Brad Noble for his attendance; and

·the NGC staff Denise and Chris, and Bunch Caterers Lee and Nathan.

President David acknowledged Sponsors Lizzie Bee Florists, Butler Settineri (Club Auditors), Paragon Consultants (Charitable Trust Auditors) and PSZ Accounting (Charitable Trust software).

He called on members to recognise RI President Barry Rasin’s Presidential theme for the year,

 Be the Inspiration.

Members were asked to acknowledge the Flag.

Author: Craig James