By: Meredith Clisby
Published in The Chronicle 2 Feb 2011
From the article:
A northside resident has been recognised dedication to improving the lives of young homeless men in Canberra.
Rhonda Obad, the founder of the Bridge Back to Life Foundation and the refuge Tony’s Place, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division during last week’s Australia Day celebrations.
Mrs Obad said she thought someone had been playing a trick on her when she recieved official confirmation of the award, but, once realisation hit, was humbled by the recognition.
She said she would like to share the award with her daughter Katherine, who had run the organisation during a period of illness, and the volunteers.
Mrs Obad began the Bridge Back to Life Foundation after the tragic death of her son Tony to a heroin overdose in 1998.
This became the catalyst for the “mountain climbing” she would go on to do, as she gave herself a personal challenge to stay focused and achieve.
“The great loss that I felt, that I still feel for him, is one of the reasons why I continue to fight, I believe, to make a difference for others and especially those who have no voice, such as young homeless men,” she said.
Tony’s Place was established to give supportiveaccommodation to homeless men aged between 18 and 25, provide a living skills program, and encourage them to become independent and move to their own home.
Nine men have successfully moved through the program and are now living independently.
While Mrs Obad has seen positively with young men she has helped she said there was still a long way to go in the community’s perception of homelessness; “It’s a taboo story, it’s a taboo conversation – no-one really wants to address it,” she said.
“These young people, their lives and their mental health and wellbeing are greatly affectedby being homeless and not knowing where they’re going to get their next meal, or if they are going to be able to wake up the next morning.”
She said the perception of some Canberrans was that homelessness and homeless people did not have a place in society and this was evidenced by the not in my backyard attitude.
“It’s wonderful work you’re doing but I don’t want theses drug addicts, these hoons, crooks, theives, murders, living next door to me; can’t you take them elsewhere?”
On the other hand when the call was put out to furnish the Scullin location of Tony’s Place the house was full within 24 hours.
Mrs Obad said she still fought against the perception that people chose to be homeless; “Let me tell you that that’s not true, a lot of these young men that I’ve given help to have been kicked out of home at 11, 12, 14 years of age.”
It’s not easy to go through the shelter system without getting affected somehow – you don’t know who you’re going to run into there, you don’t know if they’re going to put a knife through you that night.
“There’s so many factors that are not even taken into consideration by the general community.”
Tony’s place is always filled to capacity with Mrs Obad receiving three or four calls a week for a placement.
She said even the police call her occasionally, which she said demonstrated a clear need for such services in Canberra.
She believes the program works so well because she hands back responsibility to the men, who become amazed that they can run their own home.
Recently the residents of Tony’s Place received the news they had been waiting for with the successful purchase of their own home.
They moved in last Friday and Mrs Obad said “the boys” were ecstatic to call the place their own.
She said this was made possible by receiving $50,000 in the Bryce Courtney Power of One competition and the donation of Secret Millionaire Christian Beck who gave the foundation an equal amount.
Mrs Obad said the secret millionaire also did all the paperwork for the house purchase and lent his Terrigal holiday home to the boys for a week.
“We went there on the train, which was an absolutely beautiful ride, and the boys had their first ever best holiday ever, they really enjoyed it,” she said.
Mrs Obad said it was fantastic to have a permanent home for her young men and plans were already underway to construct a two bedroom unit as the property was zoned for dual occupancy.
This will enable the men to live independently in the flat first before moving out on their own.
“It’s the first time I bet for a long time that they can call a place really and truly home.” Mrs Obad said. “we all need to belong, we all need to be loved, they’re no different – all they need is love.
“Let’s face it when we exit this world that’s the only thing we take with us, the love in our hearts for all of the people we love.”
Mrs Obad said she would welcome any help the community could bestow on her organisation and young men and people were encouraged to visit www.bridgebacktolife.com.au.
And despite the happiness she feels at being recognised with an OAM, the challenge goes on.
“It’s all road ahead now, we’re going to keep climbing that mountain and we’re going to keep getting better and better as we go along,” she said.
