Giving brings, satisfaction

A Parmelia resident for the past eight years, counsellor to the masses and committed volunteer Anthony Ward has come full circle since starting out as a DJ in his teenage years to now presenting for Noongar Radio.

A qualified counsellor, minister and street chaplain, Anthony dedicates himself to giving back to the community as much as he can.

“My wife says I need to think about myself sometimes and I say I’m doing all this so I don’t think about myself,” Anthony said.

After dabbling in radio as a 17-year-old at Mix 94.5 he went on to become Australia's most capped mine camp manager managing 18 different mine camps and villages across the country.

“I worked with Greg Pierce and Eoin Cameron in the early days. They are the guys that taught me when I was younger,” he said.

“There was a time when I decided that perhaps radio wasn’t for me and I didn’t take it seriously enough.

“I was more interested in mental health, so I volunteered for 12 years as a crisis counsellor for the Sonshine FM Careline and then I went FIFO, chasing the dollar.”

Anthony was recognised for his contribution to the mining industry as a camp manager and counsellor in 2012 and 2013 with finalist nominations in three categories of the Australian Mining Prospect Awards including community difference, excellence in OHS and Mine Manager of the Year.

Admitting to being on good money while working FIFO he said he gave much of it back to the community, even buying a single mum a car so she could get around.

“My cousin who works on the mines said there were a lot of suicidal workers, so he told me to start FIFO counselling and I did,” he said.

“I was a camp manager and a counsellor at the same time. After I dealt with a suicide, they realised they needed someone on site full time for mental health care for all of the workers and they offered me the position.”

While on his honeymoon Anthony said he received his calling after convincing a man not to jump off a ledge during a wild storm.

“It was really powerful. He got off the ledge and I thought wow, I’ve found my calling and that’s when I started studying counselling,” he said.

He now volunteers for Noongar Radio with two programs, a mental health talk show called Strong Minds and a new Gospel Celebration series which begun last week.

Both shows air throughout the State and are replayed on the national Indigenous Relay service across Australia.

In between the radio shows and counselling throughout Perth, Anthony also works as a street chaplain once a month in Perth and Fremantle.

“We walk around the busy club areas, the hotspots and help people find taxis and get home safely, offering blankets and thongs,” Anthony said.

“It is lovely work based on a good Samaritan role rather than being preachy, and is very hands on.

“It’s very rewarding helping people and seeing them get home safe.”

Earlier this month he did red carpet interviews for a NAIDOC event at the Astor Theatre where Phil Walleystack and The Merinda’s performed. “I got to interview the Governor-General of WA and you can’t get much higher than that,” Anthony said.

“I try to find the balance between volunteering and making a living.

“I’m always trying to give back and I believe there is a therapeutic process in giving and helping others, but you actually help yourself grow.

“It’s opened amazing doors and amazing friendships,” he said.