ian mcdougall
  • Ian McDougall
    • Background
    • Humbled by Honour
  • Projects
    • Bloke's Lounge
    • Mentoring >
      • He said, she said
      • Helping the Homeless in more ways than one
    • Save the Post Box
    • Racism
  • Articles
    • MUSICAL MADNESS
    • MY EARLY CARS
    • This (mechanical) life
    • The Thorpe Ascension
    • Goolie grippers
    • Bewdy Bonza guide to Australia
    • Wine descriptors
    • Notes for shop assistants
  • McDoggerel
    • Political >
      • WAR IS A WHORE
      • Joe Hockey
      • Blue Ties
      • Kevin, The Musical
      • LNPeeing in their own next
      • Flegg flogged
      • Your Job
      • We're Shot to Shit
      • Can Do (A Political Pantomime)
      • Bwuce Almighty
      • Election in the Air
      • What The Hell
      • How 'ard?
      • Parly rap
      • About face, about facing the truth
    • Social issues >
      • On The Streets
      • Ready & Able
      • Where I Live
      • Telephone font
    • Here Be Demons >
      • The Truth Comes Out
      • Yeah mate, I know
      • Dread Head
      • Sometimes
      • Black Dog Barking
      • Bark you black dog
    • Other >
      • My car
      • Bloody lawn
      • Night noise
      • The Dunny
      • My Kind of Blue
      • THE CHRISTMAS FRIDGE
      • Kiss Me
      • The Stick
      • Magpie mornings
      • Delhi belly
      • Hinkum booby
      • GRIEF IS THE PRICE OF LOVE
      • Darts for Old Farts
      • Surfers ain't paradise
      • The March
      • CALLIPYGOUS
      • Bangalow Markets
      • Meanderthals
      • Four small words
      • Bessie
      • The Devil Drives a Prado
      • Desert Dawn 1991
      • Your Mobile Phone
      • Your Honour
      • The Tellie
      • I Hate The Train
    • Haiku >
      • Blokey haiku
      • Hospital haiku
      • Other haiku
  • People
    • Surf legend
    • On ya bike, Mal!
    • VALE >
      • Vale: Roger Crook
      • Vale: Nev Brough
      • Vale: Ron Dix
      • Vale: Joan Small
      • Vale: Dal Withers
    • Lieut Clarry McDougall MC >
      • Race meeting at the front
      • March to the Rhine
      • Daybreak surprise
      • Cooyar Cenotaph unveiled
    • J.F. McDougall - Queenslander >
      • J.F. McDougall - family stuff
    • Partners in Recovery >
      • Getting it out there
      • Funky postcards hit the streets
      • Phil's pouches popular
      • New life for Naomi
      • There's magic in music
      • Lessons from the edge of darkness
      • Crafting a future
      • From misery to happiness
      • Dominique - Shades of day
    • Book People >
      • Matthew on road to recovery
      • #1 Kevin Jones
      • #2 Melissa and Ann
      • #3 David Oldfield
      • #4 Multicultural moments
      • #5 Peter Burt
      • #6 Brendan Lauritz
      • #7 Matthew's mutt
      • #8 Dal loves his Wilburs
      • #9 Books found
      • #10 New shoes, new vigour, new hope
      • #11 Up there for thinking
      • #12 Jo's lessons
      • #13 Cowboy takes teens on reality ride
  • Out & about
  • Grumpy Old Fart

Matthew on road to recovery

Picture
Mattie's a happy chappy: he's got himself into rehab and his future's looking much brighter.

"I've done a stint or two before," he said. "I get stronger and more resilient each time but I need to continue my transformation."

Part of that process is the self-help and motivation books Matthew Butler gets from the Gold Coast Street Library table during Rosies Monday lunch session at Tuesley Park, where he called in to see me and have a chat.

We've know each other for a couple of years since I did a yarn on him and his dawg, Alvin.

Mattie misses his sprech-hund.

He moved into an accommodation facility that didn't allow pets and have to have Alvin re-housed. Matt still sees him occasionally. He asks about the photo I took of them together that was used in the article. Over his shoulder comes a voice from his mate Jason. They only get to see each other occasionally these days. "You gave it to me, Ian. Been keeping it for you, Mattie. I've got it in my dresser at home. Sorry, mate, I forgot. Come around later and I'll give it to you." Smiles all around.

Another small joy in Mattie's life.
Sometimes there's not many but he maintains a positive demeanour.
 
More joy: He recently got to spend some time with his son. "Had a good time together but we don't get to do it often enough," a beaming Matthew said. "He got himself a scholarship to Southport School a couple of years ago. He's 10 now. It'll see him through primary school. It will give him a head start on high school."

Even more joy: a local agency funded his bicycle repairs so he can get about freely.
"Got to have my independence. I don't like relying on other people."

So while there's some magic in Matthew's life, there's no abracadabra moment, no wave-the- wand cure.

"
I know it's a long haul," he said. "But I keep working on myself. I've cleaned up a lot and I'm definitely a lot healthier so hopefully this session will be my last."

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.