Mareeba man Joseph Callope helping other Indigenous men battling mental health issues

Joseph Callope was an alcoholic who couldn’t put food on the table for his children. Now he’s turned his life around, he’s helping other men escape their demons, but it’s wayward kids he next wants to help.

JOSEPH Callope couldn’t put food on the table for his children five years ago. He’d spend all his money on grog.

Now he’s a completely different man, and is trying to help other Indigenous men in Mareeba escape their demons like he did.

“I went to rehab for alcoholism; it was my problem,” Mr Callope said.

“I had no food in the cupboards for my children. My family got sick of me asking them for food.”

Before Mr Callope’s father died, he pleaded with his son to change his ways. That galvanised Mr Callope. He checked into rehab and began his life anew as a 43-year-old.

Joseph Callope leads a tour of Wullumba Aboriginal art site on his traditional Wakaman country. Picture: supplied

Now 48, he hasn’t touched a drop since and is trying to inspire others to do the same.

Each fortnight in Mareeba he leads a men’s group called Bungaru. He first rounds up the group’s members, some of whom he routinely finds in a park already drunk.

“They're proper alcoholics,” he said.

“I pick ‘em up and say ‘c’mon fellas, men’s group’, and they jump into the bus.

“I don’t care if they’re half drunk; I’m proud they’re coming along.

Joseph Callope leads a men’s group called Bungaru. Picture: supplied

“You have to go to them because they won’t come to you. I know, because I was an alcoholic.”

Mr Callope said almost 30 men now attend his group, wherein he tries to support their separation from substance addiction by reconnecting them to their traditional culture.

“Over time they’ll start realising that they don’t need to be drinking alcohol. Some have already started easing up,” he said.

Joseph Callope shows young Indigenous men how to cook in the traditional practice of Kup Murri. Picture: supplied

“You’ve just got to keep going. It makes me happy to do this. I want to help others. I’m doing it from the heart.”

Mr Callope now wants to start engaging with local Indigenous youth who have been involved with the justice system. Some have already started attending his men’s group.

“There’s a lot of stealing in Mareeba – breaking into old people’s homes. I want to help these kids before they go down the wrong track,” he said.

“There’s men in the group who have been to prison. They tell the boys that prison is not the place to be. We show them that there’s other things to do instead of stealing.”

Bungaru men’s group meets biweekly on Wednesdays at Mareeba Community Centre.

Originally published as Mareeba man Joseph Callope helping other Indigenous men battling mental health issues