A Bit About Me..
Crikey, where to start. Well I was born in Cowra, NSW in 1981. A you beaut little town of just under 10,000.
A ripper childhood. Playing sport, water skiing at the nearby Wyangala Dam. Primary School as a Mulligrubber (locals joke).
Trips to Sydney, the Gold Coast. Two big Sisters and a loving extended family.
Headed off to big school in the big smoke. Cranbrook, in Bellevue Hill, Sydney. What an experience that was. As it turned out, had a bit too much time outta the classrom than in, but hey, you gotta be good at something, right?
Played a lot of Rugby for the mighty Beasties (Eastern Suburbs District Rugby Union Football Club), and also ended up running the joint for a short amount of time.
Travelled to Ireland to work and coach in Rugby Union for a couple of years as well.
Have my own Rugby Union coaching business. And have worked in pubs for many years, and recently returned home to Cowra to run one of the pubs there as a lease owner for two years.
The Rough Patch..
A few big issues in my life really came to a head recently during that stint running a pub in Cowra.
A couple of years ago, I finally told my Family that I am gay (age 33).
It was pretty tough going before that day. As you can see from above, I have in one form or another lived a very stereo-typically 'straight' life as far as an Australian male is concerned.
Herein lies the problem as it turns out.
My family and friends could not have been more supportive. The love I felt from all those around my when I decided to step forward and discuss my sexuality openly was nothing short of remarkable.
Unfortunately though, the story doesn't end there.
I am also a survivor of sexual abuse at the hands of someone outside of my Family, from when I was young.
I only told my Family about this a week of so ago (this website went live on Thursday 8th Spetember 2016, as it turns out on R U OK Day....bloody good timing !!!).
I have carried the burden of this situation in the form of confusion, embarrasment, anger and a toxic level of shame for the majority of my life.
The side affect of that, has unfortunately been drug abuse.
Many have said to me over recent years that they thought my trajectory in life would have been at a bit of a higher level, or just a bit more consistent.
My self esteem has ebbed and flowed since as far back as I can remember. So many highlights like being Head Prefect at one of Australia's most prominent Schools, to running my own pub, travelling overseas, just to name a few.
But always in the background was this permanently shackled weight that kept dragging me down.
Well, I'm proud to say I've found the key, unlcoked the shackle, grabbed the weight, swung it round my head a few times and thrown as far as the bastard could go!
A couple of months ago a few very good mates confronted me about what they believed to be a rapdily detoriorating situation in relation to my drug abuse issue.
They had heard (and seen first hand) that I was using the drug Ice.
And they were right.
Things had gotten so bad for me that I was willing to give this particular substance a go, even though I had heard through the grapevine how much damage it was causing for many people.
Ill talk more about that in the other section on this site about my plan to help people.
Anyway, fast forward a couple of months, as a result of my mates intervention, I put my hand up, did some research, found a Doctor, a Counsellor and on their advice, checked Myself into a rehab/recovery facility and I am now on a journey to live a happy and meaningful life from that day forth.
Thanks for taking the time to read a bit about me.
If you would like to hear about how I want to help other people, you can click here to view my plan.
