A former Wellington man who once battled with alcohol and drug addiction has won a major title at the 2017 National Dreamtime Awards.
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Jeffery Amatto, an ambassador against substance abuse, was named Community Person of the Year at the awards night in Sydney aimed at recognising Australia’s most influential Indigenous people.
Jeff came into the spotlight after co-founding health and wellbeing group, Brothers 4 Recovery, alongside Steven Morris and Wellington’s Edward Daley.
Former Wellington man, Nathan Towney, was awarded Teacher of the Year for his work as principal at Newcastle High School.
“Brothers 4 Recovery is a pretty new tour and a lot of people can’t believe how much we’ve been noticed in such a short time,” Jeff said.
“Little Wellington got a bit of recognition in a positive way on Friday night, it was really good.”
The Brothers 4 Recovery tour was established in March 2017 and is delivered by three recovered alcohol addicts who share their life stories with schools and community groups in a move to deter substance abuse.
“I want to lead by example for my town, be a positive role model for our younger kids and I want to be the one that breaks the chain,” Jeff said.
“I’m so passionate about it because [people I care about] are dying from this addiction… just seeing what it’s doing to our mob, to know I used to be in that cycle myself and how hard it is to get out of it… I just want all our mob to know that there is a way out of that life and I’m living proof of it.”
Jeff’s life of addiction took a turn seven years ago when he attended Indigenous men’s rehabilitation centre, The Glen, on the Central Coast.
“That’s where it all started for me – The Glen gave me the tools to live a normal life without drugs and alcohol,” Jeff said. “I now have a beautiful partner who does a great job raising our two kids while I’m on the road doing my best to support my mob.”
