By Violet Li
A charity walk was held to raise community awareness against ice on Saturday 2 November at Cranbourne Racecourse.
The event was hosted by the founder of Hope Cartel Gary Wright and the president and founder of the Zerosuicide Community Awareness Program Paul Withall.
“The event was focused on ice. We did the first Australian Anti Ice Campaign in Cranbourne. We get the public down there. And we offered them free space to make a street where people can get direct access to support,” Mr Withall said.
“We managed to run the whole event free of charge for everybody who entered. About 300 people attended to walk against ice when we walked around the park.
“We got 5,000 people to come down on the day from all around Victoria and have some fun with their children while getting direct access to their means.”
Instant access to recovery and support services was provided onsite all day, including Headspace, Wellways, Hope Cartel, Leg Up Program, Butterfly Foundation, Amend Movement, Your Recovery House, and other organisations.
Mr Withall said they had the day in Cranbourne for a reason.
“In Victoria, when you talk from Dandenong, out towards into South Gippsland and up to all the Casey area, there’s not just a lot of ice there. There are a lot of ice deaths. There’s a lot of crime, and it’s very significant,” he said.
“You hear about it more on social media in that area than you do anywhere else, so that’s why we chose that area.
“It’s not just more addicts. There’s more crime and there’s more death.”
Mr Withall said ongoing drug issues stemmed from someone who had been very traumatised or dealing with pain.
“And they haven’t unpacked that trauma yet. That’s the biggest side of drug use. We need to show that these people are covering trauma. They’re broken people that need help,” he said.
“By doing that, we break the stigma in ice.
“Drugs and alcohol addiction is suicide. It’s just not noticed as suicide. If you continue to use drugs, you will either end up dead from the drug or you’ll get hurt and killed. Or you’ll kill someone else while you’re on the drug.
“This is a part of suicide that our society doesn’t realise. So doing an event like this, we’re raising hardcore truths and real-world awareness.”
Support is available. In an emergency, call triple-zero (000).
Lifeline 13 11 14.
DirectLine is a statewide telephone and online service which supports people seeking alcohol and other drugs information, advice or referral. Call 1800 888 236.
