Intoxication and anti-social behaviour: A morning on the beat with Port Augusta’s City Safe street patrol service
It’s 10am and Pt Augusta’s City Safe program is already under the pump, dealing with people who are intoxicated. And that’s just one city trying to tackle drugs and alcohol.
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It’s 10am and Port Augusta’s City Safe program is already under the pump, dealing with people who are intoxicated, causing minor disturbances or who just need help moving around town safely.
You’d be forgiven for at first mistaking Tony Edmonds for a police officer.
He’s dressed in navy and equipped with a utility belt; his imposing, fit figure commanding authority.
But a drive around town with the program co-ordinator who has made Port Augusta his second home for the past 11 years, suggests he’s more often seen as friend than foe by the local Aboriginal community.
Mr Edmonds heads up South Australian Special Operations Group, which runs City Safe to help deal with issues around drinking and anti-social behaviour in town, particularly during the busy summer period when the Aboriginal population swells.
The service, costing $240,000 a year, faces a cloudy future, after Port Augusta Council decided not to fund it past October 2020. By that time, it hopes to find other backers to run City Safe — potentially in a different form.
Mr Edmonds knows many of the Aboriginal community members by name, even though a lot are visiting from towns such as Alice Springs, Coober Pedy and Ceduna.
And they know him, referring to the 58-year-old as “uncle” or “brother”.
“A lot of people have the misconception that because of what we wear, we run around with big sticks and frighten people,” Mr Edmonds says.
“But the indigenous people that we deal with like it because it gives them a go between for the police.”
Mr Edmonds and his staff cover long shifts, but also work on call.
They patrol the town, driving through main streets and past bottle shops, parks, services and meeting places.
Under Port Augusta’s bylaws, they have the power to issue fines to people intoxicated in dry zones, but often simply move people on.
“It’s about making people feel safe,” Mr Edmonds says.
“We just generally keep the peace in town so everybody — indigenous or otherwise, can come in and do their shopping with their kids totally unhindered.
“If somebody is intoxicated I’d rather give them a lift home than take them to the sober up centre or let them get arrested.
“We’re also trying to boost tourism in town and I would like to think we’re having a big impact on that.”
During The Advertiser’s visit, Mr Edmonds is called over by police to deal with an argument between two women before it turns into something serious.
The face-off centred around a love triangle, and Mr Edmonds whisks away one of the women, dropping her off to a safe place in a bid to quell tensions.
His service is popular — many locals requesting a lift — while Mr Edmonds pulls over and winds down the window to check whether others, walking alone, need help.
Also on the agenda is providing lunch to some who may otherwise go hungry for the day.
Port Augusta Council will call for tenders from organisations willing to continue the service until October next year, and after then, will cease its funding.
The issue has sparked concern from local residents and businesses.
Mr Edmonds is hopeful other agencies will help cover the service’s cost but says if that doesn’t happen, locals could expect to see an increase in drinking in town and more petty crimes.
Adnyamathanha and Yankunytjatjara woman Marilyn Ah Fat says locals respect Mr Edmonds and “speak to him like he’s their brother”.
“He knows everybody and we all respect him and his gang,” she says.
“They always patrol around the sandhills and see if everybody is all right and if they’re hungry.”
Mayor Brett Benbow says Port Augusta will set up a working party in attempt to find a way to continue the service without council funding.
The council would target state and federal cash.
“There was $100,000 given by the State Government when this was first started and although it became a success story, it also became a cost to the council,” he says.
“It’s also gone from one level of funding to a much larger amount of funding.
“It also needs to go out to tender.
“We understand how important this is — we just want to set it up properly.”
Substance abuse link to barren seasons
Lack of social connection is one of the key factors in drug and alcohol abuse in regional areas, according to workplace trainer Gina Brooks.
Ms Brooks is the director of Training x Design and works with a range of rural businesses across Australia.
She said people often find solace in booze and drugs due to isolation and hardship.
“There’s no doubt people are doing it tough,” she said.
“In tough times, people don’t operate as well. But that’s the time that requires more upkeep and maintenance and greater focus.
“Especially in the bush, isolation and loneliness are major factors (in people turning to substances).”
Ms Brooks said another major issue in the bush was a reluctance to seek help when it was needed.
“Unfortunately when people are in that headspace, and don’t have a good support network, that’s when they tend to make unhealthy decisions,” she said.
“Even the people who catch up with their mates, often that relationship is very surface-based, rather than emotional, so they won’t necessarily become vulnerable and say they’re struggling.”
Ms Brooks said the big challenge was getting people to admit they are struggling, especially regional men.
“I think the first step is awareness of what can lead to issues,” Ms Brooks told The Advertiser.
“It can just be someone not feeling like themselves or finding it hard to get up in the morning.
“I think most times, people don’t go to the next step after recognising they’re feeling like that, there’s a thought that ‘I should just deal with it.”
— Paula Thompson
Life centre offers fresh hope
It’s an isolated guesthouse with a difference. Situated on a 100 acre property, residents are banned from using phones, computers and cars.
Welcome to the Joanna Life Skills Centre, near Naracoorte, offering affordable supported accommodation.
Residence is for vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals, like one man who came to the centre desperate to kick an 18-year drug addiction.
“He said he didn’t like himself without drugs in his system — it was too much of a shock,” said Carol Canala-Coleman, who along with husband Rob operate the unique compound.
It is the only rehab centre of its kind in the South-East, despite community calls for state or federal funding for a detox facility.
The centre is on the site of the former Karobran New Life Centre, which was the only non-private rehabilitation clinic before it closed in 2015 due to rising costs.
Mrs Coleman said their centre would offer more of a holistic approach, with mental health, drug and alcohol support, and links to health professionals.
“A lot of people want to get out of the situation they’re in, but they can’t see a way out — that’s what’s cruel to watch people go through,” Mrs Canala-Coleman said.
“When we saw this place, we thought ‘we can do something, we can help the people who need it most’.
“But we can’t do anything for them if they don’t want to be here.”
The Joanna Life Skills Centre is set on a 100 acre property, on a dirt road about 20km out of town, and its isolation is an important part of the healing process.
“People need to be informed that coming here means no phone, no computer or no vehicle,” Mrs Canala-Coleman told The Advertiser.
“If they’re happy with that, then we’ll talk more.”
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