The unspoken stories of 350 West Australians who vanished
They disappeared without a trace.
Mothers. Fathers. Children.
Loners and extroverts. Rich and poor.
All vanished.
A total of 364 West Australians are listed as 'long-term missing people'.
The files are some of the most baffling cases police deal with because there is no evidence of foul play.
One day they were living normal lives, the next they were gone.
In most cases there is no suggestion of criminality. No clues left as to why.
On Tuesday, the State Government is unveiling a new campaign to find them.
A State-wide television and social media blitz will seek to unearth new information about what happened to the people who haven't been seen or heard from over the past seven decades.
Instead of focusing on where a person was last seen, the campaign is designed to jog deeper memories of friends, work colleagues and family.
Did the missing mum once talk about a secret lover in a different part of Australia?
Was the child worried about something in the classroom?
Had that workmate mentioned a new hobby or desire to try something new? Crimestoppers - Yvonne Waters Credit: Unknown / WA Police
Crime Stoppers WA chief executive Vince Hughes said the campaign would highlight the fact that every long-term missing person had a life story that was abruptly interrupted.
The new ads will encourage the public to help complete those untold stories.
'I can't imagine the pain and anguish the families of these missing persons must live with every day of their lives, not knowing what has happened to their loved ones,' Dr Hughes said.
'We want to help the families of these long-term missing persons to complete the untold stories of their loved ones.
'We're asking the public to provide any new information they have about any of the 364 long-term missing persons to contact Crime Stoppers.
'All online reports and calls are anonymous unless you choose to leave your details.'
Anyone with information is urged to contact www.crimestopperswa.com.au or call 1800 333 000. Image of Glenyce Rae McGowan from the Facebook page dedicated to her and her disappearance Credit: Glenyce Rae McGowan/Facebook / Glenyce Rae McGowan/Facebook
A person is considered 'long-term missing' if they haven't been seen or heard from in more than 90 days and there is no indication of a crime.
The cases are managed by a dedicated team inside the WA Police major crime division.
Missing persons team detective Ellie Wold said the smallest tipoff could generate fresh leads.
'Their information might just be the missing piece of the puzzle that helps us to find answers for families of a long-term missing person,' she said.
Officers hope the campaign will help solve cases such as what happened to Rigby Mark Fielding, who has not been seen for 10 years.
The-then 53-year-old was last seen on the afternoon of August 15, 2015, in East Perth. He told the friends he was with that he was returning to his home in Rockingham.
He never made it. Some personal items were found in bushland near Kwinana, but no other trace has been uncovered.
Since the 1960s 54 people have gone missing from the Kimberley, 47 rom the Pilbara, 26 from the Goldfields, 22 from the South West and 47 from the Great Southern.
Since 1975, 57 people have vanished from the Mid West and six from the Wheatbelt.
Between 1953 and 2024, 95 people disappeared from the Perth metropolitan area.
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'No, that's not true': accused mushroom killer denies deliberate poisoning
Accused death cap killer Erin Patterson has denied that she deliberately poisoned a beef Wellington served to her in-laws as she gives evidence in her fourth day on the stand. Ms Patterson, 50, is facing three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after she allegedly hosted a fatal lunch for her estranged husband's family in July 2023. Ms Patterson has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has always maintained her innocence. She was questioned for three days by her barrister, Colin Mandy SC, before prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC started her cross-examination on June 5. The prosecutor asked Ms Patterson if she had told Facebook friends that she was an atheist. Ms Patterson said she had not. Dr Rogers turned her line of questioning towards emoji selection in a message sent by Ms Patterson. The message was sent to some of Ms Patterson's Facebook friends after prayer was suggested by Don Patterson in response to her marital and family problems. The prosecutor and Ms Patterson went back and forth over the meaning of an emoji that had a straight line for a mouth. Dr Rogers suggested that the emoji represented an 'eyeroll' that was meant to mock the use of Christian prayer in Patterson family disputes. "I wasn't mocking, I was frustrated," Ms Patterson said. The court was shown images, which were described as screenshots with information about brain and ovarian cancer. Ms Patterson said she could not be sure if she had taken the photos, but generally agreed that she had made the internet searches. "I suggest that you accessed these images of information about cancer in May 2023," Dr Rogers said. "I don't think I did," Ms Patterson said. Ms Patterson told the court that she had been "quite worried" about her health in late 2021 and early 2022, but not in 2023. Dr Rogers suggested that Ms Patterson had taken the screenshots to bolster her claims that she had cancer. "I suggest this information from the internet would allow you to tell a more convincing lie about having cancer," Dr Rogers said. "I mean, theoretically that's true, but it's not what I did," Ms Patterson said. Dr Rogers and Ms Patterson went back and forth about false cancer claims allegedly made by the accused. "I suggest that you said at the lunch that you had tests and they found ovarian cancer," Dr Rogers said. "I don't think I put it that precisely...I don't remember saying I had a diagnosis," Ms Patterson said. "You dispute that you said they found ovarian cancer?" Dr Rogers said. "Yeah, I do, I do," Ms Patterson said. The 50-year-old said that she didn't say anything "that specific". Dr Rogers asked about a dehydrator found at Koonwarra Landfill and Transfer Station that had Ms Patterson's fingerprints on it. A manual and an invoice for the dehydrator, bought on April 28, 2023, further suggested that the appliance belonged to Ms Patterson, Dr Rogers said. Dr Rogers suggested to Ms Patterson that she lied to police about buying, using and disposing of the dehydrator because she had used it to dehydrate death cap mushrooms. "You lied about dehydrating food and mushrooms because you knew that if you told police the truth, then that would implicate you in the poisoned lunch. Agree or disagree?" Dr Rogers said. "I agree that I lied because I was afraid I would be held responsible," Ms Patterson said. Dr Rogers also asked if Ms Patterson had intentionally dehydrated poisonous mushrooms at her home. "You knew that they were death cap mushrooms that you'd been dehydrating, correct?" Dr Rogers said. "No, I didn't know that," Ms Patterson said. Dr Rogers continued her rapid questioning. "You were very keen to dispose of any evidence that might connect you with the possession of death cap mushrooms, correct?" Dr Rogers said. "No, I didn't," Ms Patterson said. The prosecutor also asked Ms Patterson if she had attempted to dehydrate other foods in the appliance that was found at Koonwarra Landfill. She said that she had also experimented with apples, bananas and other fruit. "And did you take photos of them?" Dr Rogers said. "I don't remember, I might've, I don't remember," Ms Patterson said. Ms Patterson told the court that she picked mushrooms from a number of local sites after she bought the dehydrator on April 28, 2023. "On or after 28 April, 2023, and before the lunch, did you pick wild mushrooms?" Dr Rogers said. "I did," Ms Patterson said. She said she picked mushrooms in Korumburra Botanic Gardens, a nearby rail trail and at her Leongatha home. Dr Rogers turned the line of questioning to a conversation about foraged or wild mushrooms that Ms Patterson had with a doctor at Monash Hospital. The doctor previously told the court that Ms Patterson had denied using foraged or wild mushrooms in the fatal lunch, Dr Rogers said. Ms Patterson confirmed that the doctor "did say that" but that she hadn't believed the statement "was a lie at the time". Dr Rogers asked Ms Patterson if she had intended to serve the same meal to her estranged husband if he had attended the lunch. "You intended to serve one of those beef Wellingtons to Simon Patterson, had he turned up at the lunch?" Dr Rogers said. "If he'd come, I would have given him a beef Wellington too. But not one with death cap mushrooms intentionally," Ms Patterson said. The trial is continuing. Accused death cap killer Erin Patterson has denied that she deliberately poisoned a beef Wellington served to her in-laws as she gives evidence in her fourth day on the stand. Ms Patterson, 50, is facing three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after she allegedly hosted a fatal lunch for her estranged husband's family in July 2023. Ms Patterson has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has always maintained her innocence. She was questioned for three days by her barrister, Colin Mandy SC, before prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC started her cross-examination on June 5. The prosecutor asked Ms Patterson if she had told Facebook friends that she was an atheist. Ms Patterson said she had not. Dr Rogers turned her line of questioning towards emoji selection in a message sent by Ms Patterson. The message was sent to some of Ms Patterson's Facebook friends after prayer was suggested by Don Patterson in response to her marital and family problems. The prosecutor and Ms Patterson went back and forth over the meaning of an emoji that had a straight line for a mouth. Dr Rogers suggested that the emoji represented an 'eyeroll' that was meant to mock the use of Christian prayer in Patterson family disputes. "I wasn't mocking, I was frustrated," Ms Patterson said. The court was shown images, which were described as screenshots with information about brain and ovarian cancer. Ms Patterson said she could not be sure if she had taken the photos, but generally agreed that she had made the internet searches. "I suggest that you accessed these images of information about cancer in May 2023," Dr Rogers said. "I don't think I did," Ms Patterson said. Ms Patterson told the court that she had been "quite worried" about her health in late 2021 and early 2022, but not in 2023. Dr Rogers suggested that Ms Patterson had taken the screenshots to bolster her claims that she had cancer. "I suggest this information from the internet would allow you to tell a more convincing lie about having cancer," Dr Rogers said. "I mean, theoretically that's true, but it's not what I did," Ms Patterson said. Dr Rogers and Ms Patterson went back and forth about false cancer claims allegedly made by the accused. "I suggest that you said at the lunch that you had tests and they found ovarian cancer," Dr Rogers said. "I don't think I put it that precisely...I don't remember saying I had a diagnosis," Ms Patterson said. "You dispute that you said they found ovarian cancer?" Dr Rogers said. "Yeah, I do, I do," Ms Patterson said. The 50-year-old said that she didn't say anything "that specific". Dr Rogers asked about a dehydrator found at Koonwarra Landfill and Transfer Station that had Ms Patterson's fingerprints on it. A manual and an invoice for the dehydrator, bought on April 28, 2023, further suggested that the appliance belonged to Ms Patterson, Dr Rogers said. Dr Rogers suggested to Ms Patterson that she lied to police about buying, using and disposing of the dehydrator because she had used it to dehydrate death cap mushrooms. "You lied about dehydrating food and mushrooms because you knew that if you told police the truth, then that would implicate you in the poisoned lunch. Agree or disagree?" Dr Rogers said. "I agree that I lied because I was afraid I would be held responsible," Ms Patterson said. Dr Rogers also asked if Ms Patterson had intentionally dehydrated poisonous mushrooms at her home. "You knew that they were death cap mushrooms that you'd been dehydrating, correct?" Dr Rogers said. "No, I didn't know that," Ms Patterson said. Dr Rogers continued her rapid questioning. "You were very keen to dispose of any evidence that might connect you with the possession of death cap mushrooms, correct?" Dr Rogers said. "No, I didn't," Ms Patterson said. The prosecutor also asked Ms Patterson if she had attempted to dehydrate other foods in the appliance that was found at Koonwarra Landfill. She said that she had also experimented with apples, bananas and other fruit. "And did you take photos of them?" Dr Rogers said. "I don't remember, I might've, I don't remember," Ms Patterson said. Ms Patterson told the court that she picked mushrooms from a number of local sites after she bought the dehydrator on April 28, 2023. "On or after 28 April, 2023, and before the lunch, did you pick wild mushrooms?" Dr Rogers said. "I did," Ms Patterson said. She said she picked mushrooms in Korumburra Botanic Gardens, a nearby rail trail and at her Leongatha home. Dr Rogers turned the line of questioning to a conversation about foraged or wild mushrooms that Ms Patterson had with a doctor at Monash Hospital. The doctor previously told the court that Ms Patterson had denied using foraged or wild mushrooms in the fatal lunch, Dr Rogers said. Ms Patterson confirmed that the doctor "did say that" but that she hadn't believed the statement "was a lie at the time". Dr Rogers asked Ms Patterson if she had intended to serve the same meal to her estranged husband if he had attended the lunch. "You intended to serve one of those beef Wellingtons to Simon Patterson, had he turned up at the lunch?" Dr Rogers said. "If he'd come, I would have given him a beef Wellington too. But not one with death cap mushrooms intentionally," Ms Patterson said. The trial is continuing. Accused death cap killer Erin Patterson has denied that she deliberately poisoned a beef Wellington served to her in-laws as she gives evidence in her fourth day on the stand. Ms Patterson, 50, is facing three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after she allegedly hosted a fatal lunch for her estranged husband's family in July 2023. Ms Patterson has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has always maintained her innocence. She was questioned for three days by her barrister, Colin Mandy SC, before prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC started her cross-examination on June 5. The prosecutor asked Ms Patterson if she had told Facebook friends that she was an atheist. Ms Patterson said she had not. Dr Rogers turned her line of questioning towards emoji selection in a message sent by Ms Patterson. The message was sent to some of Ms Patterson's Facebook friends after prayer was suggested by Don Patterson in response to her marital and family problems. The prosecutor and Ms Patterson went back and forth over the meaning of an emoji that had a straight line for a mouth. Dr Rogers suggested that the emoji represented an 'eyeroll' that was meant to mock the use of Christian prayer in Patterson family disputes. "I wasn't mocking, I was frustrated," Ms Patterson said. The court was shown images, which were described as screenshots with information about brain and ovarian cancer. Ms Patterson said she could not be sure if she had taken the photos, but generally agreed that she had made the internet searches. "I suggest that you accessed these images of information about cancer in May 2023," Dr Rogers said. "I don't think I did," Ms Patterson said. Ms Patterson told the court that she had been "quite worried" about her health in late 2021 and early 2022, but not in 2023. Dr Rogers suggested that Ms Patterson had taken the screenshots to bolster her claims that she had cancer. "I suggest this information from the internet would allow you to tell a more convincing lie about having cancer," Dr Rogers said. "I mean, theoretically that's true, but it's not what I did," Ms Patterson said. Dr Rogers and Ms Patterson went back and forth about false cancer claims allegedly made by the accused. "I suggest that you said at the lunch that you had tests and they found ovarian cancer," Dr Rogers said. "I don't think I put it that precisely...I don't remember saying I had a diagnosis," Ms Patterson said. "You dispute that you said they found ovarian cancer?" Dr Rogers said. "Yeah, I do, I do," Ms Patterson said. The 50-year-old said that she didn't say anything "that specific". Dr Rogers asked about a dehydrator found at Koonwarra Landfill and Transfer Station that had Ms Patterson's fingerprints on it. A manual and an invoice for the dehydrator, bought on April 28, 2023, further suggested that the appliance belonged to Ms Patterson, Dr Rogers said. Dr Rogers suggested to Ms Patterson that she lied to police about buying, using and disposing of the dehydrator because she had used it to dehydrate death cap mushrooms. "You lied about dehydrating food and mushrooms because you knew that if you told police the truth, then that would implicate you in the poisoned lunch. Agree or disagree?" Dr Rogers said. "I agree that I lied because I was afraid I would be held responsible," Ms Patterson said. Dr Rogers also asked if Ms Patterson had intentionally dehydrated poisonous mushrooms at her home. "You knew that they were death cap mushrooms that you'd been dehydrating, correct?" Dr Rogers said. "No, I didn't know that," Ms Patterson said. Dr Rogers continued her rapid questioning. "You were very keen to dispose of any evidence that might connect you with the possession of death cap mushrooms, correct?" Dr Rogers said. "No, I didn't," Ms Patterson said. The prosecutor also asked Ms Patterson if she had attempted to dehydrate other foods in the appliance that was found at Koonwarra Landfill. She said that she had also experimented with apples, bananas and other fruit. "And did you take photos of them?" Dr Rogers said. "I don't remember, I might've, I don't remember," Ms Patterson said. Ms Patterson told the court that she picked mushrooms from a number of local sites after she bought the dehydrator on April 28, 2023. "On or after 28 April, 2023, and before the lunch, did you pick wild mushrooms?" Dr Rogers said. "I did," Ms Patterson said. She said she picked mushrooms in Korumburra Botanic Gardens, a nearby rail trail and at her Leongatha home. Dr Rogers turned the line of questioning to a conversation about foraged or wild mushrooms that Ms Patterson had with a doctor at Monash Hospital. The doctor previously told the court that Ms Patterson had denied using foraged or wild mushrooms in the fatal lunch, Dr Rogers said. Ms Patterson confirmed that the doctor "did say that" but that she hadn't believed the statement "was a lie at the time". Dr Rogers asked Ms Patterson if she had intended to serve the same meal to her estranged husband if he had attended the lunch. "You intended to serve one of those beef Wellingtons to Simon Patterson, had he turned up at the lunch?" Dr Rogers said. "If he'd come, I would have given him a beef Wellington too. But not one with death cap mushrooms intentionally," Ms Patterson said. The trial is continuing. Accused death cap killer Erin Patterson has denied that she deliberately poisoned a beef Wellington served to her in-laws as she gives evidence in her fourth day on the stand. Ms Patterson, 50, is facing three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after she allegedly hosted a fatal lunch for her estranged husband's family in July 2023. Ms Patterson has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has always maintained her innocence. She was questioned for three days by her barrister, Colin Mandy SC, before prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC started her cross-examination on June 5. The prosecutor asked Ms Patterson if she had told Facebook friends that she was an atheist. Ms Patterson said she had not. Dr Rogers turned her line of questioning towards emoji selection in a message sent by Ms Patterson. The message was sent to some of Ms Patterson's Facebook friends after prayer was suggested by Don Patterson in response to her marital and family problems. The prosecutor and Ms Patterson went back and forth over the meaning of an emoji that had a straight line for a mouth. Dr Rogers suggested that the emoji represented an 'eyeroll' that was meant to mock the use of Christian prayer in Patterson family disputes. "I wasn't mocking, I was frustrated," Ms Patterson said. The court was shown images, which were described as screenshots with information about brain and ovarian cancer. Ms Patterson said she could not be sure if she had taken the photos, but generally agreed that she had made the internet searches. "I suggest that you accessed these images of information about cancer in May 2023," Dr Rogers said. "I don't think I did," Ms Patterson said. Ms Patterson told the court that she had been "quite worried" about her health in late 2021 and early 2022, but not in 2023. Dr Rogers suggested that Ms Patterson had taken the screenshots to bolster her claims that she had cancer. "I suggest this information from the internet would allow you to tell a more convincing lie about having cancer," Dr Rogers said. "I mean, theoretically that's true, but it's not what I did," Ms Patterson said. Dr Rogers and Ms Patterson went back and forth about false cancer claims allegedly made by the accused. "I suggest that you said at the lunch that you had tests and they found ovarian cancer," Dr Rogers said. "I don't think I put it that precisely...I don't remember saying I had a diagnosis," Ms Patterson said. "You dispute that you said they found ovarian cancer?" Dr Rogers said. "Yeah, I do, I do," Ms Patterson said. The 50-year-old said that she didn't say anything "that specific". Dr Rogers asked about a dehydrator found at Koonwarra Landfill and Transfer Station that had Ms Patterson's fingerprints on it. A manual and an invoice for the dehydrator, bought on April 28, 2023, further suggested that the appliance belonged to Ms Patterson, Dr Rogers said. Dr Rogers suggested to Ms Patterson that she lied to police about buying, using and disposing of the dehydrator because she had used it to dehydrate death cap mushrooms. "You lied about dehydrating food and mushrooms because you knew that if you told police the truth, then that would implicate you in the poisoned lunch. Agree or disagree?" Dr Rogers said. "I agree that I lied because I was afraid I would be held responsible," Ms Patterson said. Dr Rogers also asked if Ms Patterson had intentionally dehydrated poisonous mushrooms at her home. "You knew that they were death cap mushrooms that you'd been dehydrating, correct?" Dr Rogers said. "No, I didn't know that," Ms Patterson said. Dr Rogers continued her rapid questioning. "You were very keen to dispose of any evidence that might connect you with the possession of death cap mushrooms, correct?" Dr Rogers said. "No, I didn't," Ms Patterson said. The prosecutor also asked Ms Patterson if she had attempted to dehydrate other foods in the appliance that was found at Koonwarra Landfill. She said that she had also experimented with apples, bananas and other fruit. "And did you take photos of them?" Dr Rogers said. "I don't remember, I might've, I don't remember," Ms Patterson said. Ms Patterson told the court that she picked mushrooms from a number of local sites after she bought the dehydrator on April 28, 2023. "On or after 28 April, 2023, and before the lunch, did you pick wild mushrooms?" Dr Rogers said. "I did," Ms Patterson said. She said she picked mushrooms in Korumburra Botanic Gardens, a nearby rail trail and at her Leongatha home. Dr Rogers turned the line of questioning to a conversation about foraged or wild mushrooms that Ms Patterson had with a doctor at Monash Hospital. The doctor previously told the court that Ms Patterson had denied using foraged or wild mushrooms in the fatal lunch, Dr Rogers said. Ms Patterson confirmed that the doctor "did say that" but that she hadn't believed the statement "was a lie at the time". Dr Rogers asked Ms Patterson if she had intended to serve the same meal to her estranged husband if he had attended the lunch. "You intended to serve one of those beef Wellingtons to Simon Patterson, had he turned up at the lunch?" Dr Rogers said. "If he'd come, I would have given him a beef Wellington too. But not one with death cap mushrooms intentionally," Ms Patterson said. The trial is continuing.
West Australian
6 hours ago
- West Australian
Dramatic arrest of Karratha woman gathers more than 200,000 views on Facebook
Footage of a dramatic arrest of a 25-year-old woman in Karratha last week has gathered more than 240,000 views on Facebook with police revealing it was the second time they had been called to the property that day. According to police, officers were called to a residence in Millars Well at 10.30am on June 2 after an alleged physical altercation between people known to each other. The woman was arrested for allegedly breaching her bail conditions by being at the residence and obstructing police by locking herself in a vehicle as they tried to execute the arrest. The woman was charged with obstructing public officers, common assault in circumstances of aggravation or racial aggravation and possessing methylamphetamine. She appeared before the Karratha Magistrates Court on June 3 and is next due to appear on July 29.
The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Homeless ex-con turned his life around and now helps others do the same
When Ashley Smith woke up from his third overdose, he knew something had to give. Finding himself in and out of jail, homeless and abusing substances, Mr Smith was left with nothing. But he knew one thing: life had more to offer. "I thought, I've got to do something with my life - being in prison, living on the streets, drinking in parks, there had to be something bigger," Mr Smith said. Growing up in a troubled family, Mr Smith said most of his family were in jail. After a domestic violence incident involving his mother and stepfather a few years ago, Mr Smith's mother was sentenced to long-term imprisonment. As a result, Mr Smith was evicted from the home where he had been living for ten years and became homeless. "I lived on the street for about 12 months, I've lived behind skip bins, in a safe space shelter, I've been to prison five times, it got to the point that I thought it was normal," he said. After numerous stints in rehab and multiple attempts at treatment in facilities across Australia, Mr Smith made the decision to turn his life around for good 12 months ago after an almost fatal overdose. A few weeks ago, he returned from Melbourne, where he spent two months in a sober house. He's since secured housing in Launceston and started a business cleaning solar panels. But there was still something he had to do - give back. "I want to give back now. I feel like it's my purpose now to help the youth and the community," he said. Mr Smith made it his mission to supply the homeless community in Launceston, TAS, with kits and uses his Facebook page - Breaking the Cycle Tassie - to advocate for positive lifestyle change. "I engage with the homeless community and have a chat," he said. "The kits could include tents, blowup mattresses, hand warmers, beanies, socks, undies." Using his story to inspire others, Mr Smith's advocacy has helped him just as much as it's helped others. "I met a bloke with his 14-year-old kid who is homeless. He actually follows me on TikTok, and he thanked me for helping him," he said. "It's crazy. I go into the CBD and I get at least two people who want to shake my hand." With first-hand experience of homelessness, Mr Smith said substance abuse was often a path those sleeping rough went down. He urged the community to be more understanding of people's circumstances. "It's the cold, alcohol helps people go to sleep and stay asleep," he said. "People say they should 'get a job', but you can't on four hours of sleep. In weather like this, you wake up soaked, and you have to find somewhere to shower. "All you want to do is block it all out, drink and use drugs." 'Don't give up' Mr Smith said he wanted to show people, especially youth, that they can "break the cycle" of criminality, drug and alcohol use, they are born into. "You can break that cycle, even if you come from disadvantaged families - you've got to put your head down and work hard, he said. "Don't give up, there is hope. If I can do it, anybody can." With his life together, Mr Smith said he felt better than he ever has, and although some days are harder than others, he wouldn't have it any other way. "I'm 74 days clean and sober, and it feels good. My head feels so clear, I can think properly, it's great," he said. When Ashley Smith woke up from his third overdose, he knew something had to give. Finding himself in and out of jail, homeless and abusing substances, Mr Smith was left with nothing. But he knew one thing: life had more to offer. "I thought, I've got to do something with my life - being in prison, living on the streets, drinking in parks, there had to be something bigger," Mr Smith said. Growing up in a troubled family, Mr Smith said most of his family were in jail. After a domestic violence incident involving his mother and stepfather a few years ago, Mr Smith's mother was sentenced to long-term imprisonment. As a result, Mr Smith was evicted from the home where he had been living for ten years and became homeless. "I lived on the street for about 12 months, I've lived behind skip bins, in a safe space shelter, I've been to prison five times, it got to the point that I thought it was normal," he said. After numerous stints in rehab and multiple attempts at treatment in facilities across Australia, Mr Smith made the decision to turn his life around for good 12 months ago after an almost fatal overdose. A few weeks ago, he returned from Melbourne, where he spent two months in a sober house. He's since secured housing in Launceston and started a business cleaning solar panels. But there was still something he had to do - give back. "I want to give back now. I feel like it's my purpose now to help the youth and the community," he said. Mr Smith made it his mission to supply the homeless community in Launceston, TAS, with kits and uses his Facebook page - Breaking the Cycle Tassie - to advocate for positive lifestyle change. "I engage with the homeless community and have a chat," he said. "The kits could include tents, blowup mattresses, hand warmers, beanies, socks, undies." Using his story to inspire others, Mr Smith's advocacy has helped him just as much as it's helped others. "I met a bloke with his 14-year-old kid who is homeless. He actually follows me on TikTok, and he thanked me for helping him," he said. "It's crazy. I go into the CBD and I get at least two people who want to shake my hand." With first-hand experience of homelessness, Mr Smith said substance abuse was often a path those sleeping rough went down. He urged the community to be more understanding of people's circumstances. "It's the cold, alcohol helps people go to sleep and stay asleep," he said. "People say they should 'get a job', but you can't on four hours of sleep. In weather like this, you wake up soaked, and you have to find somewhere to shower. "All you want to do is block it all out, drink and use drugs." 'Don't give up' Mr Smith said he wanted to show people, especially youth, that they can "break the cycle" of criminality, drug and alcohol use, they are born into. "You can break that cycle, even if you come from disadvantaged families - you've got to put your head down and work hard, he said. "Don't give up, there is hope. If I can do it, anybody can." With his life together, Mr Smith said he felt better than he ever has, and although some days are harder than others, he wouldn't have it any other way. "I'm 74 days clean and sober, and it feels good. My head feels so clear, I can think properly, it's great," he said. When Ashley Smith woke up from his third overdose, he knew something had to give. Finding himself in and out of jail, homeless and abusing substances, Mr Smith was left with nothing. But he knew one thing: life had more to offer. "I thought, I've got to do something with my life - being in prison, living on the streets, drinking in parks, there had to be something bigger," Mr Smith said. Growing up in a troubled family, Mr Smith said most of his family were in jail. After a domestic violence incident involving his mother and stepfather a few years ago, Mr Smith's mother was sentenced to long-term imprisonment. As a result, Mr Smith was evicted from the home where he had been living for ten years and became homeless. "I lived on the street for about 12 months, I've lived behind skip bins, in a safe space shelter, I've been to prison five times, it got to the point that I thought it was normal," he said. After numerous stints in rehab and multiple attempts at treatment in facilities across Australia, Mr Smith made the decision to turn his life around for good 12 months ago after an almost fatal overdose. A few weeks ago, he returned from Melbourne, where he spent two months in a sober house. He's since secured housing in Launceston and started a business cleaning solar panels. But there was still something he had to do - give back. "I want to give back now. I feel like it's my purpose now to help the youth and the community," he said. Mr Smith made it his mission to supply the homeless community in Launceston, TAS, with kits and uses his Facebook page - Breaking the Cycle Tassie - to advocate for positive lifestyle change. "I engage with the homeless community and have a chat," he said. "The kits could include tents, blowup mattresses, hand warmers, beanies, socks, undies." Using his story to inspire others, Mr Smith's advocacy has helped him just as much as it's helped others. "I met a bloke with his 14-year-old kid who is homeless. He actually follows me on TikTok, and he thanked me for helping him," he said. "It's crazy. I go into the CBD and I get at least two people who want to shake my hand." With first-hand experience of homelessness, Mr Smith said substance abuse was often a path those sleeping rough went down. He urged the community to be more understanding of people's circumstances. "It's the cold, alcohol helps people go to sleep and stay asleep," he said. "People say they should 'get a job', but you can't on four hours of sleep. In weather like this, you wake up soaked, and you have to find somewhere to shower. "All you want to do is block it all out, drink and use drugs." 'Don't give up' Mr Smith said he wanted to show people, especially youth, that they can "break the cycle" of criminality, drug and alcohol use, they are born into. "You can break that cycle, even if you come from disadvantaged families - you've got to put your head down and work hard, he said. "Don't give up, there is hope. If I can do it, anybody can." With his life together, Mr Smith said he felt better than he ever has, and although some days are harder than others, he wouldn't have it any other way. "I'm 74 days clean and sober, and it feels good. My head feels so clear, I can think properly, it's great," he said. When Ashley Smith woke up from his third overdose, he knew something had to give. Finding himself in and out of jail, homeless and abusing substances, Mr Smith was left with nothing. But he knew one thing: life had more to offer. "I thought, I've got to do something with my life - being in prison, living on the streets, drinking in parks, there had to be something bigger," Mr Smith said. Growing up in a troubled family, Mr Smith said most of his family were in jail. After a domestic violence incident involving his mother and stepfather a few years ago, Mr Smith's mother was sentenced to long-term imprisonment. As a result, Mr Smith was evicted from the home where he had been living for ten years and became homeless. "I lived on the street for about 12 months, I've lived behind skip bins, in a safe space shelter, I've been to prison five times, it got to the point that I thought it was normal," he said. After numerous stints in rehab and multiple attempts at treatment in facilities across Australia, Mr Smith made the decision to turn his life around for good 12 months ago after an almost fatal overdose. A few weeks ago, he returned from Melbourne, where he spent two months in a sober house. He's since secured housing in Launceston and started a business cleaning solar panels. But there was still something he had to do - give back. "I want to give back now. I feel like it's my purpose now to help the youth and the community," he said. Mr Smith made it his mission to supply the homeless community in Launceston, TAS, with kits and uses his Facebook page - Breaking the Cycle Tassie - to advocate for positive lifestyle change. "I engage with the homeless community and have a chat," he said. "The kits could include tents, blowup mattresses, hand warmers, beanies, socks, undies." Using his story to inspire others, Mr Smith's advocacy has helped him just as much as it's helped others. "I met a bloke with his 14-year-old kid who is homeless. He actually follows me on TikTok, and he thanked me for helping him," he said. "It's crazy. I go into the CBD and I get at least two people who want to shake my hand." With first-hand experience of homelessness, Mr Smith said substance abuse was often a path those sleeping rough went down. He urged the community to be more understanding of people's circumstances. "It's the cold, alcohol helps people go to sleep and stay asleep," he said. "People say they should 'get a job', but you can't on four hours of sleep. In weather like this, you wake up soaked, and you have to find somewhere to shower. "All you want to do is block it all out, drink and use drugs." 'Don't give up' Mr Smith said he wanted to show people, especially youth, that they can "break the cycle" of criminality, drug and alcohol use, they are born into. "You can break that cycle, even if you come from disadvantaged families - you've got to put your head down and work hard, he said. "Don't give up, there is hope. If I can do it, anybody can." With his life together, Mr Smith said he felt better than he ever has, and although some days are harder than others, he wouldn't have it any other way. "I'm 74 days clean and sober, and it feels good. My head feels so clear, I can think properly, it's great," he said.
