2019-Wesley-Mission-Annual-Report - Flipbook - Page 24
Freeing Maree
from judgement or fear
When Maree first began dabbling
with poker machines, she never
believed her urges and debts
would lead to a gaol sentence.
Maree hadn’t gambled for 10 years but in early 2017
entrenched urges came upon her again, firing up
old anxieties and a quick fix to deal with unresolved
trauma. Once the proud 2015 NRMA Manager of the
Year for the Hunter, within a few months her poker
machine debts had spiralled out of control and
$49,000 in cash had been stolen from the NRMA
office where she worked.
“I knew I would get caught,” Maree said. “And then I
did get caught. Maybe subconsciously I wanted it to
end. I told my GP and she referred me to Wesley
Mission. I look back now, and I really think God
was intervening.”
Maree contacted Jodie, Principal Solicitor with
Wesley Community Legal Service, who provided
legal support. It was at Wesley Mission that
gambling counsellor, Martina, began the long
process of working through Maree’s issues of
addiction while financial counsellor, Robyn, helped
her develop budgeting and financial management
skills for life beyond gaol.
Maree was facing a 16-month sentence but both
Martina and Robyn were looking far beyond the
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immediate by providing a holistic and integrated
approach to rehabilitation and restoration.
counselling appointments with Martina and Robyn
for the week of her release.
“I was a mess and suicidal,” Maree said. “There
were things I had not really dealt with in my life.
Martina helped me with a lot of things.”
“This showed Maree’s commitment to work on her
issues and her confidence in us to help her through
her ordeal,” Martina said.
Her case isn’t unique with more than 50 per cent of
all fraud cases in Australia related to problem
gambling. Maree is one of the brave few in Australia
who seek help. Most struggle alone, too ashamed or
fearful to do so.
Only a few months after the release from gaol,
Maree began a Certificate III course in business
administration (medical) at TAFE.
“All problem gamblers have mental health issues of
some sort. Usually there is a history of trauma that
can include adverse life events,” Martina said, who
counsels up to 30 people a week.
“Problem gambling is a coping mechanism for many
experiencing mental health issues. Most of the time
the gambler has all intentions of paying back the
money they owe, however, they get into a vicious
cycle with their gambling and are quickly in over
their heads.”
“I didn’t think I had a gambling problem but
everyone around me did,” Maree said. “It was my
money and I could do what I wanted to do with it
despite the fact I didn’t have money to pay for food
or rent.”
“I have seen Maree’s sense of hope and confidence
increase dramatically,” Martina said. “She has come
out of this awful experience a better person
although she still shows great remorse for what she
has done. She no longer gambles and is able to
manage her gambling urges.”
Maree intends to continue to attend counselling and
has set a new course in life thanks to Martina,
Robyn and Jodie, who she credits with “saving her
life”. It’s a job that is replicated hundreds of times
each year by Wesley Gambling & Financial
Counselling Services and Wesley Community
Legal Service.
“I didn’t think I had a gambling
problem but
around me did...”
everyone
Maree was sentenced to 16 months gaol with a
non-parole period of 10 months. An appeal was
later lodged by Wesley Community Legal Service on
Maree’s behalf, and following the success of this
appeal, Maree’s mum immediately booked
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