'I have to beg charities to help us': Janine's heartbreaking struggle to live
Janine Aqil doesn't know how long she has to live.
Mrs Aqil, of Maitland, has incurable bile duct cancer.
The 28-year-old was studying to be a teacher for children with special needs before she was diagnosed last year.
"It's extremely hard. I'm trying to stay positive and not constantly think about the negative," she said.
Her cancer was discovered after she went for a blood test in pregnancy planning.
"The cancer markers were clear, but it was showing some kind of infection," she said.
"I went through specific cancer blood tests and they came back clear. Then my doctor sent me to get an X-ray, CT scan and ultrasound.
"I got a call from the radiology clinic telling me to go to hospital because there's something not right."
She was admitted to hospital for further tests.
"I eventually got an MRI and then a liver biopsy. That's when they found it was actually cancer. It came as a big shock."
Janine's mum Trish Bolan started a GoFundMe for her daughter.
Ms Bolan, who lives near Gloucester, said the diagnosis had "completely turned our lives upside down".
"If you know Janine, then you know how humble, polite and caring she is with an absolute heart of gold," Ms Bolan said.
She said the family was struggling to afford rent, bills, medicine and "basic things".
Janine's husband, Arsalan Aqil, said "we're going through absolute hell".
"There's not a single day we don't cry," said Mr Aqil, 35.
"I just look after my wife at home. She's not able to walk properly due to extensive weakness caused by chemo.
"We both have anxiety and depression. We are suffering financially, emotionally and physically."
Mr Aqil, who was born in Pakistan, is not an Australian citizen.
"We solely rely on my wife's disability payments and most of that goes on rent. Then we are barely left with anything. I have to beg charities to help us."
Mr Aqil was lonely until he met his wife.
"My wife means everything to me. I just want her to get better," he said.
"My approach to life changed when I met her. Then I started planning to be a better provider and get us somewhere in life."
He dreamed of studying medicine or IT.
Mrs Aqil can't have surgery because the cancer is on both sides of her liver.
"I'm not eligible for a transplant because it's in lymph nodes and part of the pelvis," she said.
"I recently had a second liver biopsy to get more tissue samples, so they can do tests to see what clinical trials I could possibly do."
She is being treated with chemotherapy tablets, as receiving intravenous treatment left her bedridden for days.
Her cancer is stable.
"There's nothing that will 100 per cent cure it, but it can be under control," she said.
They are drawing on their faith to get through the ordeal.
"Every day is a struggle for us. We don't feel like waking up, but we have to," Mr Aqil said.
Janine Aqil doesn't know how long she has to live.
Mrs Aqil, of Maitland, has incurable bile duct cancer.
The 28-year-old was studying to be a teacher for children with special needs before she was diagnosed last year.
"It's extremely hard. I'm trying to stay positive and not constantly think about the negative," she said.
Her cancer was discovered after she went for a blood test in pregnancy planning.
"The cancer markers were clear, but it was showing some kind of infection," she said.
"I went through specific cancer blood tests and they came back clear. Then my doctor sent me to get an X-ray, CT scan and ultrasound.
"I got a call from the radiology clinic telling me to go to hospital because there's something not right."
She was admitted to hospital for further tests.
"I eventually got an MRI and then a liver biopsy. That's when they found it was actually cancer. It came as a big shock."
Janine's mum Trish Bolan started a GoFundMe for her daughter.
Ms Bolan, who lives near Gloucester, said the diagnosis had "completely turned our lives upside down".
"If you know Janine, then you know how humble, polite and caring she is with an absolute heart of gold," Ms Bolan said.
She said the family was struggling to afford rent, bills, medicine and "basic things".
Janine's husband, Arsalan Aqil, said "we're going through absolute hell".
"There's not a single day we don't cry," said Mr Aqil, 35.
"I just look after my wife at home. She's not able to walk properly due to extensive weakness caused by chemo.
"We both have anxiety and depression. We are suffering financially, emotionally and physically."
Mr Aqil, who was born in Pakistan, is not an Australian citizen.
"We solely rely on my wife's disability payments and most of that goes on rent. Then we are barely left with anything. I have to beg charities to help us."
Mr Aqil was lonely until he met his wife.
"My wife means everything to me. I just want her to get better," he said.
"My approach to life changed when I met her. Then I started planning to be a better provider and get us somewhere in life."
He dreamed of studying medicine or IT.
Mrs Aqil can't have surgery because the cancer is on both sides of her liver.
"I'm not eligible for a transplant because it's in lymph nodes and part of the pelvis," she said.
"I recently had a second liver biopsy to get more tissue samples, so they can do tests to see what clinical trials I could possibly do."
She is being treated with chemotherapy tablets, as receiving intravenous treatment left her bedridden for days.
Her cancer is stable.
"There's nothing that will 100 per cent cure it, but it can be under control," she said.
They are drawing on their faith to get through the ordeal.
"Every day is a struggle for us. We don't feel like waking up, but we have to," Mr Aqil said.
Janine Aqil doesn't know how long she has to live.
Mrs Aqil, of Maitland, has incurable bile duct cancer.
The 28-year-old was studying to be a teacher for children with special needs before she was diagnosed last year.
"It's extremely hard. I'm trying to stay positive and not constantly think about the negative," she said.
Her cancer was discovered after she went for a blood test in pregnancy planning.
"The cancer markers were clear, but it was showing some kind of infection," she said.
"I went through specific cancer blood tests and they came back clear. Then my doctor sent me to get an X-ray, CT scan and ultrasound.
"I got a call from the radiology clinic telling me to go to hospital because there's something not right."
She was admitted to hospital for further tests.
"I eventually got an MRI and then a liver biopsy. That's when they found it was actually cancer. It came as a big shock."
Janine's mum Trish Bolan started a GoFundMe for her daughter.
Ms Bolan, who lives near Gloucester, said the diagnosis had "completely turned our lives upside down".
"If you know Janine, then you know how humble, polite and caring she is with an absolute heart of gold," Ms Bolan said.
She said the family was struggling to afford rent, bills, medicine and "basic things".
Janine's husband, Arsalan Aqil, said "we're going through absolute hell".
"There's not a single day we don't cry," said Mr Aqil, 35.
"I just look after my wife at home. She's not able to walk properly due to extensive weakness caused by chemo.
"We both have anxiety and depression. We are suffering financially, emotionally and physically."
Mr Aqil, who was born in Pakistan, is not an Australian citizen.
"We solely rely on my wife's disability payments and most of that goes on rent. Then we are barely left with anything. I have to beg charities to help us."
Mr Aqil was lonely until he met his wife.
"My wife means everything to me. I just want her to get better," he said.
"My approach to life changed when I met her. Then I started planning to be a better provider and get us somewhere in life."
He dreamed of studying medicine or IT.
Mrs Aqil can't have surgery because the cancer is on both sides of her liver.
"I'm not eligible for a transplant because it's in lymph nodes and part of the pelvis," she said.
"I recently had a second liver biopsy to get more tissue samples, so they can do tests to see what clinical trials I could possibly do."
She is being treated with chemotherapy tablets, as receiving intravenous treatment left her bedridden for days.
Her cancer is stable.
"There's nothing that will 100 per cent cure it, but it can be under control," she said.
They are drawing on their faith to get through the ordeal.
"Every day is a struggle for us. We don't feel like waking up, but we have to," Mr Aqil said.
Janine Aqil doesn't know how long she has to live.
Mrs Aqil, of Maitland, has incurable bile duct cancer.
The 28-year-old was studying to be a teacher for children with special needs before she was diagnosed last year.
"It's extremely hard. I'm trying to stay positive and not constantly think about the negative," she said.
Her cancer was discovered after she went for a blood test in pregnancy planning.
"The cancer markers were clear, but it was showing some kind of infection," she said.
"I went through specific cancer blood tests and they came back clear. Then my doctor sent me to get an X-ray, CT scan and ultrasound.
"I got a call from the radiology clinic telling me to go to hospital because there's something not right."
She was admitted to hospital for further tests.
"I eventually got an MRI and then a liver biopsy. That's when they found it was actually cancer. It came as a big shock."
Janine's mum Trish Bolan started a GoFundMe for her daughter.
Ms Bolan, who lives near Gloucester, said the diagnosis had "completely turned our lives upside down".
"If you know Janine, then you know how humble, polite and caring she is with an absolute heart of gold," Ms Bolan said.
She said the family was struggling to afford rent, bills, medicine and "basic things".
Janine's husband, Arsalan Aqil, said "we're going through absolute hell".
"There's not a single day we don't cry," said Mr Aqil, 35.
"I just look after my wife at home. She's not able to walk properly due to extensive weakness caused by chemo.
"We both have anxiety and depression. We are suffering financially, emotionally and physically."
Mr Aqil, who was born in Pakistan, is not an Australian citizen.
"We solely rely on my wife's disability payments and most of that goes on rent. Then we are barely left with anything. I have to beg charities to help us."
Mr Aqil was lonely until he met his wife.
"My wife means everything to me. I just want her to get better," he said.
"My approach to life changed when I met her. Then I started planning to be a better provider and get us somewhere in life."
He dreamed of studying medicine or IT.
Mrs Aqil can't have surgery because the cancer is on both sides of her liver.
"I'm not eligible for a transplant because it's in lymph nodes and part of the pelvis," she said.
"I recently had a second liver biopsy to get more tissue samples, so they can do tests to see what clinical trials I could possibly do."
She is being treated with chemotherapy tablets, as receiving intravenous treatment left her bedridden for days.
Her cancer is stable.
"There's nothing that will 100 per cent cure it, but it can be under control," she said.
They are drawing on their faith to get through the ordeal.
"Every day is a struggle for us. We don't feel like waking up, but we have to," Mr Aqil said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
2 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Social media ban for children is ‘destined to fail' unless parents address their own smart phone addiction, pyschologist warns
Australia is just six months away from bringing in a world-leading law to ban children under 16 from social media but experts say more needs to be done before it comes into effect. Psychologist Danielle Einstein, who briefed the draft legislation for the ban, was on Weekend Sunrise on Saturday to address how it could work. Previously Einstein warned the ban would 'fail miserably' unless the federal government tackles screen addiction first. 'We need a few different things. First of all, we need doctors and psychologists asking patients when they come in with mental health issues about their tech use,' she told Weekend Sunrise. 'It should just be part of normal conversation — 'let's have a look, how many hours were you on here?' 'It's a part of the way we are trying to handle ourselves, and if someone has anxiety and depression, and you miss it because it's not seen as alright to ask about it and the doctors are embarrassed or if the patient makes it seem as if it's not OK (for asking).' Einstein said she didn't mean doctors had to go into extreme detail of how a person uses social media and technology but said conversations around tech use needed to be a part of a 'digital health check' in the same way doctors use a suicide screening. She also said a big public health campaign would be needed to 'expose the addictive' nature of social media and the corresponding health effects it may have on Australians. 'Both students and parents may realise that this isn't actually healthy for them,' Einstein said. For parents wondering what to do now, before the ban is imposed, Einstein encouraged adults to lead by example and cut back on their own technology use. 'The most important thing a parent can do is model,' she said. 'Parents need to be aware of what we do when we walk into the house (or when) at the dinner table: 'Do I have a phone that's near me?'' Einstein said using phones during arguments between parents to show the other person they were wrong had also become common practice but this could be easily stopped if phones are put out of sight. Despite the potential difficulties with executing the ban, Einstein said the federal government's decision to prevent harm to young Australian's should be looked at as a 'tremendous success' as other countries look to follow our example. 'We are leading the world, and we should be very proud of that,' Einstein said. 'Around the world, we've seen people wake up and start to question tech use. 'In Spain, there are paediatric guidelines coming out to show children from zero to six shouldn't have technology, aside for supervised use.' The social media ban for children under 16 years old is expected to come into effect in December 2025. The ban was first announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last year, who said he was 'calling time on it' due to a number of tragic deaths relating to bullying on social media. But there is yet no guarantee technologies aimed at blocking young kids from social media will always work, according to early trial results. While the early findings of a federal government-commissioned trial found age assurance technologies are available, there's no silver bullet. 'Age assurance can be done in Australia and can be private, robust and effective,' the report found. 'We found a plethora of approaches that fit use cases in different ways. 'But we did not find a single ubiquitous solution that would suit all use cases, nor did we find solutions that were guaranteed to be effective in all deployments.' Under the social media ban, platforms will have to take reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from creating new accounts and could face millions in fines for systemic breaches of the new rules. Cabinet minister Murray Watt maintained the need for restrictions around social media. 'The Australian people believe that we do need to see some restrictions around social media use when it comes to young people,' he told ABC News on Friday. 'Unfortunately, it has become an insidious force, both for young people and more widely.' Australia's ban is world-leading and, in the aftermath of the November passage of federal laws, other nations indicated a desire to emulate the measure. However, the legislation does not indicate how exactly the ban will be executed. The report found parental control and consent systems could be effective when first introduced. But there is 'limited evidence' that they would be effective as children grow up or allow kids the right to participate in the breadth of digital experiences. Even after the coalition helped secure an amendment to ensure Australians wouldn't have to provide any form of government identification to verify their age, the trial found there was a risk of privacy breaches. Some age assurance service providers had over-anticipated the needs of regulators and built tools that led to an 'unnecessary and disproportionate collection and retention of data'. Opposition communications spokeswoman Melissa McIntosh has urged Labor to confirm what technology or verification tools will be used to protect kids online. 'No more young lives can be lost or families destroyed because of the toxicity of social media,' she said in a statement. The Age Assurance Technology Trial's final report is expected to be published later in 2025.
The Advertiser
9 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'I have to beg charities to help us': Janine's heartbreaking struggle to live
Janine Aqil doesn't know how long she has to live. Mrs Aqil, of Maitland, has incurable bile duct cancer. The 28-year-old was studying to be a teacher for children with special needs before she was diagnosed last year. "It's extremely hard. I'm trying to stay positive and not constantly think about the negative," she said. Her cancer was discovered after she went for a blood test in pregnancy planning. "The cancer markers were clear, but it was showing some kind of infection," she said. "I went through specific cancer blood tests and they came back clear. Then my doctor sent me to get an X-ray, CT scan and ultrasound. "I got a call from the radiology clinic telling me to go to hospital because there's something not right." She was admitted to hospital for further tests. "I eventually got an MRI and then a liver biopsy. That's when they found it was actually cancer. It came as a big shock." Janine's mum Trish Bolan started a GoFundMe for her daughter. Ms Bolan, who lives near Gloucester, said the diagnosis had "completely turned our lives upside down". "If you know Janine, then you know how humble, polite and caring she is with an absolute heart of gold," Ms Bolan said. She said the family was struggling to afford rent, bills, medicine and "basic things". Janine's husband, Arsalan Aqil, said "we're going through absolute hell". "There's not a single day we don't cry," said Mr Aqil, 35. "I just look after my wife at home. She's not able to walk properly due to extensive weakness caused by chemo. "We both have anxiety and depression. We are suffering financially, emotionally and physically." Mr Aqil, who was born in Pakistan, is not an Australian citizen. "We solely rely on my wife's disability payments and most of that goes on rent. Then we are barely left with anything. I have to beg charities to help us." Mr Aqil was lonely until he met his wife. "My wife means everything to me. I just want her to get better," he said. "My approach to life changed when I met her. Then I started planning to be a better provider and get us somewhere in life." He dreamed of studying medicine or IT. Mrs Aqil can't have surgery because the cancer is on both sides of her liver. "I'm not eligible for a transplant because it's in lymph nodes and part of the pelvis," she said. "I recently had a second liver biopsy to get more tissue samples, so they can do tests to see what clinical trials I could possibly do." She is being treated with chemotherapy tablets, as receiving intravenous treatment left her bedridden for days. Her cancer is stable. "There's nothing that will 100 per cent cure it, but it can be under control," she said. They are drawing on their faith to get through the ordeal. "Every day is a struggle for us. We don't feel like waking up, but we have to," Mr Aqil said. Janine Aqil doesn't know how long she has to live. Mrs Aqil, of Maitland, has incurable bile duct cancer. The 28-year-old was studying to be a teacher for children with special needs before she was diagnosed last year. "It's extremely hard. I'm trying to stay positive and not constantly think about the negative," she said. Her cancer was discovered after she went for a blood test in pregnancy planning. "The cancer markers were clear, but it was showing some kind of infection," she said. "I went through specific cancer blood tests and they came back clear. Then my doctor sent me to get an X-ray, CT scan and ultrasound. "I got a call from the radiology clinic telling me to go to hospital because there's something not right." She was admitted to hospital for further tests. "I eventually got an MRI and then a liver biopsy. That's when they found it was actually cancer. It came as a big shock." Janine's mum Trish Bolan started a GoFundMe for her daughter. Ms Bolan, who lives near Gloucester, said the diagnosis had "completely turned our lives upside down". "If you know Janine, then you know how humble, polite and caring she is with an absolute heart of gold," Ms Bolan said. She said the family was struggling to afford rent, bills, medicine and "basic things". Janine's husband, Arsalan Aqil, said "we're going through absolute hell". "There's not a single day we don't cry," said Mr Aqil, 35. "I just look after my wife at home. She's not able to walk properly due to extensive weakness caused by chemo. "We both have anxiety and depression. We are suffering financially, emotionally and physically." Mr Aqil, who was born in Pakistan, is not an Australian citizen. "We solely rely on my wife's disability payments and most of that goes on rent. Then we are barely left with anything. I have to beg charities to help us." Mr Aqil was lonely until he met his wife. "My wife means everything to me. I just want her to get better," he said. "My approach to life changed when I met her. Then I started planning to be a better provider and get us somewhere in life." He dreamed of studying medicine or IT. Mrs Aqil can't have surgery because the cancer is on both sides of her liver. "I'm not eligible for a transplant because it's in lymph nodes and part of the pelvis," she said. "I recently had a second liver biopsy to get more tissue samples, so they can do tests to see what clinical trials I could possibly do." She is being treated with chemotherapy tablets, as receiving intravenous treatment left her bedridden for days. Her cancer is stable. "There's nothing that will 100 per cent cure it, but it can be under control," she said. They are drawing on their faith to get through the ordeal. "Every day is a struggle for us. We don't feel like waking up, but we have to," Mr Aqil said. Janine Aqil doesn't know how long she has to live. Mrs Aqil, of Maitland, has incurable bile duct cancer. The 28-year-old was studying to be a teacher for children with special needs before she was diagnosed last year. "It's extremely hard. I'm trying to stay positive and not constantly think about the negative," she said. Her cancer was discovered after she went for a blood test in pregnancy planning. "The cancer markers were clear, but it was showing some kind of infection," she said. "I went through specific cancer blood tests and they came back clear. Then my doctor sent me to get an X-ray, CT scan and ultrasound. "I got a call from the radiology clinic telling me to go to hospital because there's something not right." She was admitted to hospital for further tests. "I eventually got an MRI and then a liver biopsy. That's when they found it was actually cancer. It came as a big shock." Janine's mum Trish Bolan started a GoFundMe for her daughter. Ms Bolan, who lives near Gloucester, said the diagnosis had "completely turned our lives upside down". "If you know Janine, then you know how humble, polite and caring she is with an absolute heart of gold," Ms Bolan said. She said the family was struggling to afford rent, bills, medicine and "basic things". Janine's husband, Arsalan Aqil, said "we're going through absolute hell". "There's not a single day we don't cry," said Mr Aqil, 35. "I just look after my wife at home. She's not able to walk properly due to extensive weakness caused by chemo. "We both have anxiety and depression. We are suffering financially, emotionally and physically." Mr Aqil, who was born in Pakistan, is not an Australian citizen. "We solely rely on my wife's disability payments and most of that goes on rent. Then we are barely left with anything. I have to beg charities to help us." Mr Aqil was lonely until he met his wife. "My wife means everything to me. I just want her to get better," he said. "My approach to life changed when I met her. Then I started planning to be a better provider and get us somewhere in life." He dreamed of studying medicine or IT. Mrs Aqil can't have surgery because the cancer is on both sides of her liver. "I'm not eligible for a transplant because it's in lymph nodes and part of the pelvis," she said. "I recently had a second liver biopsy to get more tissue samples, so they can do tests to see what clinical trials I could possibly do." She is being treated with chemotherapy tablets, as receiving intravenous treatment left her bedridden for days. Her cancer is stable. "There's nothing that will 100 per cent cure it, but it can be under control," she said. They are drawing on their faith to get through the ordeal. "Every day is a struggle for us. We don't feel like waking up, but we have to," Mr Aqil said. Janine Aqil doesn't know how long she has to live. Mrs Aqil, of Maitland, has incurable bile duct cancer. The 28-year-old was studying to be a teacher for children with special needs before she was diagnosed last year. "It's extremely hard. I'm trying to stay positive and not constantly think about the negative," she said. Her cancer was discovered after she went for a blood test in pregnancy planning. "The cancer markers were clear, but it was showing some kind of infection," she said. "I went through specific cancer blood tests and they came back clear. Then my doctor sent me to get an X-ray, CT scan and ultrasound. "I got a call from the radiology clinic telling me to go to hospital because there's something not right." She was admitted to hospital for further tests. "I eventually got an MRI and then a liver biopsy. That's when they found it was actually cancer. It came as a big shock." Janine's mum Trish Bolan started a GoFundMe for her daughter. Ms Bolan, who lives near Gloucester, said the diagnosis had "completely turned our lives upside down". "If you know Janine, then you know how humble, polite and caring she is with an absolute heart of gold," Ms Bolan said. She said the family was struggling to afford rent, bills, medicine and "basic things". Janine's husband, Arsalan Aqil, said "we're going through absolute hell". "There's not a single day we don't cry," said Mr Aqil, 35. "I just look after my wife at home. She's not able to walk properly due to extensive weakness caused by chemo. "We both have anxiety and depression. We are suffering financially, emotionally and physically." Mr Aqil, who was born in Pakistan, is not an Australian citizen. "We solely rely on my wife's disability payments and most of that goes on rent. Then we are barely left with anything. I have to beg charities to help us." Mr Aqil was lonely until he met his wife. "My wife means everything to me. I just want her to get better," he said. "My approach to life changed when I met her. Then I started planning to be a better provider and get us somewhere in life." He dreamed of studying medicine or IT. Mrs Aqil can't have surgery because the cancer is on both sides of her liver. "I'm not eligible for a transplant because it's in lymph nodes and part of the pelvis," she said. "I recently had a second liver biopsy to get more tissue samples, so they can do tests to see what clinical trials I could possibly do." She is being treated with chemotherapy tablets, as receiving intravenous treatment left her bedridden for days. Her cancer is stable. "There's nothing that will 100 per cent cure it, but it can be under control," she said. They are drawing on their faith to get through the ordeal. "Every day is a struggle for us. We don't feel like waking up, but we have to," Mr Aqil said.
Perth Now
11 hours ago
- Perth Now
How one wellness habit redeemed a life of addiction
At 23, John Ogilvie hit rock bottom. After years of substance abuse, he made the painful decision to end his life because he felt like a burden to everyone around him. Thankfully he survived and that moment became a turning point. Mr Ogilvie slowly rebuilt his life. After exploring spirituality, he eventually took a leap of faith into a new path and says he's never looked he's in a much better place and lives and breathes yoga. But it was not always this way. The now 68-year-old was only 12 when he first turned to alcohol. As a teen, he felt like he didn't fit in. Drinking made him feel different, it was his way of finding connection and a sense of belonging. It was about five years later when Mr Ogilvie went from taking speed, acid and other hallucinogens to dabbling with heroin. This sparked the beginning of a relentless cycle that had him in its grip for a decade. "From 17 to 27, I was swinging between using narcotics obsessively to trying to get off narcotics, particularly heroin," he says. "It became a merry-go-round ... a very unhappy life." Hitting a wall of darkness, Mr Ogilvie began to think there was "no purpose to live". "I was lost and in a deep depression," he says. "I had buried myself in debt. I was at a physical low and not capable of working. I couldn't see anywhere else to turn to other than to just end my life." Despite his intentions, Mr Ogilvie woke days after falling into a coma. Some time later, he found himself in a detox centre and speaking with a priest who told him he'd survived for a reason. "Maybe there was a purpose in my life," he remembers thinking. It was at Victoria's Pleasant View Centre that he was first introduced to yoga. He recalls one night in the facility, a staff member photocopying sheets of yoga poses. He he went on to practice them daily. Although subsequently relapsing, Mr Ogilvie eventually entered another residential rehab facility that changed everything for him. The Buttery, in NSW's Northern Rivers region, supports people dealing with alcohol and drug addiction as well as mental health challenges, helping them recover and rebuild their lives. During his five-month stay in 1986, everything finally began falling into place. He credits a combination of the spiritual guidelines of the centre's program and the practices and philosophies of yoga for his transformation. It was during this time he began to truly heal and discover his purpose. "The Buttery really taught (me) life skills I hadn't developed in adulthood like how to clean the house, cook meals and socialise in a sober way with other people," Mr Ogilvie says. "The 12-step program gives people tools to continue with their recovery after they leave there." The year before his stay, the centre was referenced in Paul Kelly's hit To Her Door, which would eventually go seven times platinum and ranks among the top Australian songs of all time. Chief executive Leone Crayden says The Buttery has helped thousands in residential rehabilitation and 20,000 in its community outreach programs over its 50-year history. "Many people stay within the area and this assists in nurturing a special community of people who believe in sober living and giving back to the community," she tells AAP. "Our graduates are entrepreneurs, lawyers, clinical psychologists, Aboriginal artists and mentors to many people seeking recovery." Ms Crayden says the centre is also home to a community and lived experience program. "The counsellors, case managers, co-ordinators and managers of the rehabilitation program have been through The Buttery themselves and gone on to obtain qualifications in social work, nursing and counselling, and are valued for their lived experience." After completing his time there, Mr Ogilvie moved to Sydney and obsessively attended classes to become a yoga instructor. Soon after, he found himself back up north where he opened his own studio, the Byron Yoga Centre. It specialises in Purna yoga, a holistic practice combining physical posture with philosophy, meditation, breathwork and ethical living. The centre also offers eco-friendly accommodation and a mindful vegetarian diet. Mr Ogilvie remains connected to The Buttery, supporting others on their journey. "Yoga has so much depth and interest to it and that's where my passion is," he says. "People can come and I can give them skills that can really help turn their life around. It's jus not for recovering addicts but also big-time CEOs who are stressed and feeling unhealthy in their life. "Yoga is really for everybody." It sounds simple but Mr Ogilvie remains hopeful for the future and vision he's built. As living proof yoga is truly life-changing, he wants to continue teaching and promoting it for everyone. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636
