Michael Clancy starts Parrots for Purpose to give companions to returned soldiers, DV survivors and others battling poor mental health

A Gold Coast man has shared how he was plucked out of the depths of depression and anxiety while battling PTSD from witnessing the Dreamworld tragedy in 2016. Read his story

A Gold Coast man has shared how he was plucked out of the depths of depression and anxiety while battling PTSD after witnessing the Dreamworld tragedy in 2016.

Michael Clancy, 52, said at one stage he was taking 29 different tablets and could have easily turned to alcohol or illicit drugs in an attempt to cope with the aftermath of the tragedy.

HOW MICHAEL CLANCY FOUGHT BACK AFTER NIGHTMARE OF DREAMWORLD TRAGEDY

“I was crippled by anxiety and waking up each day disappointed that I woke,” he said.

“But I remember thinking ‘this won’t beat me, I will not let it win and I will rise above, from being spat at in public to people bullying my kids at school’.”

Mr Clancy said he had thought about having a dog to help him as a companion, but was not ready for the social interaction which came with it.

This was when a humble parrot named Archie helped to pluck him out of his darkest days.

The bird was the catalyst for Parrots for Purpose.

Former Dreamworld supervisor and founder of Parrots for Purpose Michael Clancy with Archie (right) and Opal (left).

“Archie was such a gift to me and I couldn’t stop thinking about how I could help others battling mental health issues or anxiety,” he said.

Mr Clancy began the social enterprise called Parrots for Purpose where he would give companion birds to returned soldiers, domestic violence survivors and others battling poor mental health.

On October 8, he moved dozens of aviaries out of his modest house in Merrimac and into a designed building in Ashmore.

Mr Clancy said he has reared and handed over 500 companion birds to help those in need.

He said following the Dreamworld tragedy he could not see anything good in life, but since beginning Parrots for Purpose, little by little his faith in humanity has been restored.

Mr Clancy credits Carers Queensland and the NDIS with helping him to move forward and finally start living life on his terms again.

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Originally published as Michael Clancy starts Parrots for Purpose to give companions to returned soldiers, DV survivors and others battling poor mental health