Known to the guests and staff as ‘Irish John the Bus Driver’, John is one of five volunteers who drives a van full of male guests from The Sydney Retreat to a 12 Step recovery men’s meeting once a month on a Tuesday night.
Known to the guests and staff as ‘Irish John the Bus Driver’, John is one of five volunteers who drives a van full of male guests from The Sydney Retreat to a 12 Step recovery men’s meeting once a month on a Tuesday night.
John, who got sober himself in 2022 says it is a privilege and a pleasure to give back in this way and that he has a lot of fun doing it since he started over two years ago.
“We have an average of ten guys, all different ages and backgrounds. They all pile into the van and there’s a real buzz – some of the newer ones are a bit apprehensive on the drive over, but there is real comradery amongst the guests and you see them helping each other out,” he explains. “The person in the front seat is in charge of playing music, adjusting the air-conditioning and opening gates – it’s not a job for the faint hearted and we have a lot of laughs and good banter on the thirty minute drive there and back.”
The meeting has around fifty to sixty men in attendance each week, ranging anywhere from two days to forty plus years sober.
“Men tend to be a lot more vulnerable and less guarded in front of other men, and seem to relax into the meeting. There’s a lot less bravado than you might expect and everyone is there for the same reason – to stay sober and help others,” he says.
After the meeting, John drives the guests back to The Sydney Retreat and often stays to do a written evening review them, where they reflect on the events of the day and how they navigated it.
“The lads seem to appreciate it and it’s helped me stay sober. There were a lot of good people who were very kind to me when I got sober, so it’s the least I can do to give back. I’ve got a huge amount of respect for people who put up their hand up, say they need help and commit to doing the program – it’s quite humbling,” he says.
“All of the people who work at The Sydney Retreat are fantastic, they’re all just incredibly decent human beings – I have an aunty who’s a nun, she’s the most spiritual person I’ve met and they’re right up there with her.”
Thank you John for your unwavering service and commitment to the guests at The Sydney Retreat!
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