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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-04-03 Daily Xml
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Whyalla Ripples Support Group

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:44): I rise to speak on the important work of the Whyalla Ripples Support Group, an organisation I first heard about when I had the privilege of attending the South Australian Community Achievement Awards last November, along with the Minister for Innovation and Skills and the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development.

At this ceremony, Whyalla Ripples won the 2018 Flinders University Rural Health South Australian Regional Achievement Award in recognition of their dedication to providing support and education to the families and loved ones of those struggling with ice addiction within the Whyalla community. This was certainly a remarkable achievement, given there were no less than 280 nominations for this particular award alone.

On the evening, I had the opportunity to meet with one of its founders, Karen Harrison, following her poignant acceptance speech in which she detailed some of the very serious risks and dangers of crystal meth and the realities of the recovery process for addicts and users of this substance. Karen attributed the organisation's success on the night to the work of its committed network of volunteers who selflessly sacrifice their time and energy for the betterment of some of the most vulnerable South Australians in the third most populous city within our state.

Whyalla Ripples was formed in 2015 after Karen had personally found herself in desperate need of help when members of her own family were experiencing the all-consuming detrimental affects of ice addiction. After she learnt there was no support group in the area for people in her position, she, along with mental health clinician Bonita Scott, took charge and formed Ripples. When Cheryl Targett from the Whyalla mental health service joined them, they appointed an executive committee, became incorporated and then sought funding.

Over the past three years, they have had up to 30 attendees at their regular meetings with speakers that have included: ambulance officers, mental health workers, nurses, lawyers, police, representatives from Life Without Barriers, the Whyalla Suicide Prevention group, Country and Outback Health, the Red Cross, Grandparents for Grandchildren SA, Mission Australia and Whyalla corrections. As residents from Port Augusta were travelling to Whyalla to attend these meetings, where they could obtain support, guidance and advice, Port Augusta Ripples was soon formed in response.

Recently, I was fortunate enough to visit Whyalla and its surrounds, and I had the pleasure of meeting with local mayors, councillors and other service providers in the community. This certainly left me with a greater insight into the issues of most concern to residents in the area, which included the social and economic impact of substance abuse.

Members would no doubt recall Adelaide was labelled the 'ice capital' of Australia in late 2017, after a study revealed we had the highest levels of methylamphetamine in our wastewater per capita. Less than a year later, usage was found to have dropped substantially and was partly attributed by commentators to a crackdown on suppliers.

The Marshall Liberal government certainly has no tolerance for pushers of any illicit drug, including ice. As we know, it is highly addictive and notorious for ravaging the health and wellbeing of its users and those closest to them. I would like to commend Whyalla Ripples on its significant contribution to its local community and to congratulate its volunteers for receiving formal recognition of its achievements. Their partnership with the state government in assisting residents of rural and regional South Australia who are most in need is noted and appreciated.

As I said, they won the award from several hundred nominees, which in itself is an outstanding achievement, but there was recognition on the night of the great work that these people are doing. As I said, I was in Whyalla a few weeks ago and had the opportunity to meet with the individuals involved in this network. They are doing great work in assisting people who have succumbed to addiction.

I met with the most senior police officers in the city, who gave credit to the organisation on their support of their law enforcement. It is a clear case of a not-for-profit community organisation doing things that are benefiting the whole community. They work tirelessly, and I want to sincerely congratulate them for all that they do.

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