Odyssey House Newsletter 2002 Issue Number 2

A message from theChairmanThe highest of distinctionsis service to others- King George VIThis is aparticularlyexciting yearin the lifeof OdysseyHouse withits 25th silverAllan Rogers anniversary.As such, Iwould like toconvey enormous gratitude onbehalf of the many sons, daughters,mothers and fathers that OdysseyHouse has helped over many years.This assistance would not have beenpossible without the hard work anddetermination of some amazinglydedicated people, who havecontributed much of their lives tothe establishment and ongoingsuccess of Odyssey House.These people include the Hon PeterPhilips, Milton Luger and James Pitts.The professionalism, dedicationand passion that these menexhibited towards Odyssey Houseduring the last quarter of a centuryis inspirational to say the least!Organisations like Odyssey Housedon’t just happen. The behind-thesceneswork that is carried out toensure the continued success ofOdyssey House year after year isenormous.Odyssey House has continued totriumph in occasionally turbulenteconomic and political circumstances.This is a direct result of the convictionand personal investment that peoplelike Peter, Milton and James havemade in the young women and menwho come through the doors ofOdyssey House on a daily basis.The future of Odyssey House isexciting. Our challenge for this25th silver anniversary and beyondis to continue to manifest thecommitment, enthusiasm andenergy of Odyssey House staff intheir work of helping peopleovercome their addictions. This,combined with the continuedassistance from our majorsupporters, will ensure OdysseyHouse celebrates many moreanniversaries.Allan RogersChairmanAlone we can do so little,TOGETHER WECAN DO SO MUCHWorking at OdysseyHouse is all about greatteamwork. To carry out the dayto-daywork of the organisationand implementation of theprogram is no easy task!The valued staff at OdysseyHouse make an enormousimpact on the lives of residentsDiary DatesFRIDAY 21 JUNE 2002Silver Jubillee Ball at The Regent, Sydney.Tickets $250 per person.MONDAY 12 AUGUST 2002Celebrity Golf Day at Moore Park. Tickets $150per person.MONDAY 26 AUGUST 2002Real Men Cook for Odyssey luncheon.SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER 2002Open Day celebration and a BODYPUMPOdyssey event at all participating gyms.For further information on any of these activities,or to confirm your involvement please call Julia,Marketing Officer on (02) 9820 9999.Helen Kellerundergoing rehabilitation.They nurture souls and assistresidents to turn their troubledlives around. Their dedicationand energy is inspirational.Staff that have recently joinedthe Odyssey House familyinclude (from left to right):Odyssey RecognitionRachel Murphy , Clinical Coordinator.Racquel Faram, Parent’s andChildren’s Psychologist.Sharon Gissane, Parent’s andChildren’s Program Administrator.Latha Rajan, AdmissionsCoordinator.Steve Hocking, Counsellor.• Special thank-you to theAndrew Thyne Reid CharitableTrust for your recent donations.• Clemenger BBDO has agreedto support Odyssey House as apro-bono advertising accountrecipient. Odyssey House willbenefit from the expertise ofstaff members Danny Searle,Ben Cliffe and Sarah Jones, whohave made a firm and impressivecommitment to help furtherdevelop the fundraising effortsof Odyssey House via innovativeadvertising campaigns. Thank-you!• Easter was made extra specialfor the residents this year thanksto the generous support of Mars,Cadbury and Woolworth’s.Aspecial commemorative logo tocelebrate the 25th silveranniversary of Odyssey House will beused throughout the year toacknowledge the enormouscontribution Odyssey House hasmade to many Australians since itsinception in Sydney in 1977.We are asking all our supporters tojoin us in celebrating the past 25 yearsby securing the future years ofOdyssey House and its residents bymaking a special one-off donation.A Road to RECOVERYTo demonstrate the realwork of Odyssey House,this column features anOdyssey House resident’s story.James entered Odyssey House inDecember 2000 as a referral fromthe NSW Drug Court."Looking back, I didn’t have the sense oflove and belonging that I needed as achild. Unfortunately, it was clear that Iwasn’t the most important person in myparent's life."James admits he misbehaved atschool to get the attention that hefelt was missing at home.When he was 12, James’ stepfatherleft the family home but James hadalready started to have majorbehavioral problems."I had a lot of anger and startedtruanting from school and gettinginto trouble with my mates. Mymother sent me to a refuge at Auburnwhen I was 14. The strange thing wasthat I actually liked it at the refuge asI got on with the other kids and itwas happier than being at home."James left school, spent a year at therefuge and worked in a variety of jobs.However at 15, James became award of the state, started smokingmarijuana and began to commitcrime. His downward spiralescalated and by his 18th birthdayhe was in gaol and had a heroinaddiction.James spent two years in gaol andthen lived with his older sister andher boyfriend for six months atAuburn. James was working but wasstill using heroin, marijuana andecstasy. He committed a break andenter and his case was diverted to theDrug Court.A decision was made that Jameswould undertake the drugrehabilitation program at OdysseyHouse."Before I came to Odyssey House, Ithought I'd spend two days and thenleave. But as soon as I walked in thedoor I instantly felt a sense of belongingand warmth that I have beendesperately searching for all my life.""I couldn't believe that people wereinterested in me and wanted to helpme - I was amazed. I felt at home.""A lot of the other residents atOdyssey House seemed to be the samesort of people as me – they were goingthrough the same sort of struggles andI remember thinking that if theycould stay, then maybe I could too.""Since I've been at Odyssey House,New friends are silverOld friends are goldAlways make new friendsBut don’t forget the old.I've learned that I’m not the personthat my parents treated me as. I lookback and believe that I missed out onthe character building that I neededas a child and as a result, I acted likesomebody else to survive."James has since discovered his trueself and is excited at his future. Heofficially graduated from the DrugCourt on 9 April 2002."Odyssey House is the school that Iattended to change my life - Ifacilitated the change but I feel that Icouldn't have done it anywhere else."James has remained drug-free forover 18 months and has recentlycompleted a cooking apprenticeshipat TAFE, where he came second inhis class. He is currently seeking afull-time job.James is the first Odyssey House resident to graduate from theNSW Drug CourtA message from theChief Executive OfficerWe are nowsix monthsinto the OdysseyHouse SilverJubilee anniversary.Activities thatwill highlightour significantachievementof 25 years ofcontinuousJames A. Pittsservice to the community are wellunderway.It was 25 years ago that WalterMcGrath founded the OdysseyHouse program in Australiafollowing the death of his son,James, to a heroin overdose.Walter McGrath had the courage andcommitment to think outside thesquare in order to bring thetherapeutic community model ofOdyssey House to Australia.From humble beginnings the programhas grown and prospered. The firstOdyssey residents were housed in tentsprocured from the army base locatedat Holsworthy Barracks and slept onbunks made of rough-hewn timber.There were five dedicated individualswho made up the first staff contingent.Despite howls and protests from somepeople in the local community,Odyssey House found its niche.Today, Odyssey House is a shiningexample of what can be accomplishedthrough dedication, hard work, and afocus on relevant service delivery. Thereare now 53 full time, and 10 part timestaff. Our services operate from fourdifferent sites throughout metropolitanSydney. We provide services to over750 persons per year, including entirefamilies. In addition to our services forthe treatment of alcohol and otherdrugs, we also have a progressiveprogram for problem gamblers.However, our work is as yet unfinished!We hope to add to our celebratoryyear by being able to announce thestart date for the refurbishment ofour main facility at Eagle Vale. Wehave raised $1 million to date, all ofwhich are private donations! Ourtarget is $1.8 million for the totalrefurbishment. We will get there.It is our hope that in the future therewill be no need for places like OdysseyHouse, as the problems associatedwith alcohol and other drug misuseand problem gambling behaviour willbe eradicated. Until then, as we havefor the past quarter of a century, wewill endeavour to provide the bestquality of service possible.James A. Pitts, M.A.General ManagerVisit Odyssey House at www.odysseyhouse.org.au ~ All donations over $2 are tax deductibleVisit Odyssey House at www.odysseyhouse.org.au ~ All donations over $2 are tax deductible