Former SA opposition leader David Speirs to hike the Kokoda Track for men's mental health
Posting on social media on Wednesday to announce his fundraising mission, Speirs said he was "doing well overall thanks to the incredible support" he has received from the community.
"Life can be real tough sometimes. Things happen which are sometimes within our control and sometimes outside of our control and often a bit of both," he said.
Speirs was convicted and fined $9,000 in April after pleading guilty to two charges of supplying a controlled substance to another person on separate occasions in August last year.
Speirs was arrested at Berri, in the state's Riverland, in September last year.
His arrest came after a video, published by News Corp, showed the former MP snorting from a plate. The charges do not relate to the video.
The former Liberal leader resigned from parliament after the charges were laid.
Speirs has previously spoken about his "emotional health and wellbeing" taking a toll during this period last year.
He now plans to raise funds, awareness and support for the Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation and The Man Cave, a mental health charity supporting teenage boys.
His lawyer had told a court in April of Speirs's plans to walk the Kokoda Track to raise money for men's mental health and for his "own rehabilitation and restoration".
In his social media post on Wednesday, Speirs said his trip was self-funded and that he plans to share his journey along the "iconic hike", which stretches for 96 kilometres through Papua New Guinea, on social media next month.
"Over the coming weeks as I prepare for, and experience, this journey, I'll be providing regular updates on my social media platforms," he said.
"I hope to take you on a virtual trip to Kokoda with me, sharing the highs and the lows."
Speirs has been contacted for comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
Music teacher Janelle Fletcher goes on trial for alleged child sexual abuse
A music teacher allegedly dared two teenage girls to kiss each other and texted one of them 'I love you, I'm so happy,' a court has heard. Janelle Colville Fletcher is standing trial in the South Australian District Court, having pleaded not guilty to grooming two girls and sexually abusing one of them while in a position of authority. She is alleged to have abused the girl in various locations some years ago and to have communicated with her and another teenage girl to make them amenable to sexual activity. In his opening statement, prosecutor Chris Allen argued before Judge Joana Fuller that Ms Fletcher had engaged in 'two or more' sexual acts with one of the girls, who was aged in her mid to late teens when the alleged offending began. Some of the alleged offending happened when the two girls and Ms Fletcher were alone together in a room, the prosecution said. In one instance, the prosecution allege Ms Fletcher, 40, was alone in a room with the two girls and performed a lap dance on a chair. She then allegedly 'dared' the two girls to kiss each other and asked if they would 'date' each other. That same night, Mr Allen said Ms Fletcher then spent time alone with one of the girls and touched her genital area. The alleged grooming and abuse of the girl then went on for months, the prosecution said. Ms Fletcher exchanged text messages and emails with the girl, writing 'I'm so in love with you, you make me so happy', the prosecution said. She is also alleged to have texted: 'Right now we can't be open. We have to continue as we are, in secret … I don't know if that is fair on you.' The abuse happened at residential properties and in a car, the prosecution claimed. There was also a 'movie night', where the two of them took photographs together and kissed, Mr Allen said. The prosecution alleged Ms Fletcher offered 'numerous gifts' to the girl on her birthday. Ms Fletcher also actively tried to hide her behaviour, the prosecution argued, in one case instructing the girl to alter her name in her phone contact book. The girl ended the relationship after some months, the court heard. Both of Ms Fletcher's alleged victims are expected to give evidence at the trial. Ms Fletcher, from Trinity Gardens in Adelaide's inner east, was formerly the head of music at Tabor College, but she no longer works there. The alleged offending does not relate to Tabor College. The trial continues.
ABC News
11 hours ago
- ABC News
Former SA opposition leader David Speirs to hike the Kokoda Track for men's mental health
Former South Australian opposition leader David Speirs says he is preparing to hike the Kokoda Track to raise funds for men's mental health, posting on social media about his plans for a "personal journey of restoration and renewal" three months after he was convicted and fined over drug supply charges. Posting on social media on Wednesday to announce his fundraising mission, Speirs said he was "doing well overall thanks to the incredible support" he has received from the community. "Life can be real tough sometimes. Things happen which are sometimes within our control and sometimes outside of our control and often a bit of both," he said. Speirs was convicted and fined $9,000 in April after pleading guilty to two charges of supplying a controlled substance to another person on separate occasions in August last year. Speirs was arrested at Berri, in the state's Riverland, in September last year. His arrest came after a video, published by News Corp, showed the former MP snorting from a plate. The charges do not relate to the video. The former Liberal leader resigned from parliament after the charges were laid. Speirs has previously spoken about his "emotional health and wellbeing" taking a toll during this period last year. He now plans to raise funds, awareness and support for the Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation and The Man Cave, a mental health charity supporting teenage boys. His lawyer had told a court in April of Speirs's plans to walk the Kokoda Track to raise money for men's mental health and for his "own rehabilitation and restoration". In his social media post on Wednesday, Speirs said his trip was self-funded and that he plans to share his journey along the "iconic hike", which stretches for 96 kilometres through Papua New Guinea, on social media next month. "Over the coming weeks as I prepare for, and experience, this journey, I'll be providing regular updates on my social media platforms," he said. "I hope to take you on a virtual trip to Kokoda with me, sharing the highs and the lows." Speirs has been contacted for comment.
ABC News
13 hours ago
- ABC News
Man jailed after setting off fire hydrants at Australian Bragg Centre, causing 'significant water damage'
A man who was found in his underwear and chewing on an espresso pod after causing over $7 million of damage to a building in Adelaide's CBD has been jailed for at least 18 months. Daniel Michael Loeser, 32, of Ingle Farm, was sentenced in South Australia's District Court on Thursday after previously pleading guilty to one count of serious criminal trespass and one count of damaging a building. District Court Judge Geraldine Davison said Loeser had entered the Australian Bragg Centre in the early hours of January 5 and set off fire hydrants on six levels of the building, causing "significant water damage". In sentencing, Judge Davison said the Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) arrived at the building at 1:20am and "noticed extensive flooding on level two of the building". "Special tools [were] needed to open the door, behind the [stairwell] door the water had been backed up to approximately a metre in height," she said. "The risers to the fire hydrant valves on levels eight to 15 had each been manually opened, causing the flooding. "The entire building suffered significant water damage amounting to a total sum of about $2 million, but with other costs associated with getting the building rectified, the damage is now currently claimed to be over $7 million." Judge Davison said Loeser was then found in the kitchen on one of the floors. "You were wearing nothing but your underwear and chewing on what appeared to be an espresso pod whilst holding several knives in your hands," she said. She said Loeser had been released from the Adelaide Remand Centre shortly before the offending, where he had been held for separate charges. "It was shortly after your release on bail that you were wandering through the city and came across the Bragg Centre, you were at that time coming off GHB and a submission was made [that] you had been up for several days," she said. "There is no dispute that you were in a state where you were significantly affected by substances at the time that you entered the Bragg Centre. "This state of intoxication at the time likely resulted in a reduced understanding of your behaviour and impaired ability to control it." Judge Davison said Loeser told a psychologist he was trying to gain access to the Royal Adelaide Hospital when he broke into the medical centre. "You didn't intend to trespass in the building or damage property by activating the sprinklers, but rather you were attempting to access the hospital in order to receive treatment for your self-induced mental health issues," she said. She said Loeser's actions not only caused property damage but caused distress to the tenants. "By your reckless behaviour, you have caused significant damage and undoubtedly this has been distressing for many people who have had to deal with the aftermath of your behaviour," she said. Loeser was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of 18 months. The sentence was backdated to when he was taken into custody on January 5, meaning he will be eligible for parole in June next year.
