Fast Eddy slows down

AT THE age of 14, Eddy Macdonald was homeless. He slept in boat yards or near restaurants because that’s where he could find food.
He braved the cold nights, befriended gangs, and was no stranger to violent attacks. A scar of a stab wound on his arm is a reminder of his troubled past.
His life then was a far cry from his life now.
Region 5 Crime Prevention Officer Senior Constable Eddy Macdonald dedicates much of his time to helping disengaged youth turn their lives around and become mentors to others in similar situations.
Young teens and adults from Cardinia, Casey and Greater Dandenong participate in a range of activities spearheaded by Sen Const Macdonald, who stepped into the role of Crime Prevention Officer in January last year.
The programs feed off his four philosophies for life.
“I believe you need to have a sense of humour about everything, you have to have access to role models, you need fitness to combat stress, and need to recognise your cultural identity,” he said.
Sen Const Macdonald stressed that mentors were extremely important in children’s lives.
He had grown up in New Zealand with a family of 14 members. His father was an alcoholic and an ex-Korean War veteran.
At 14-years-old, Eddy Macdonald said his father “violently threw him out.”
“From the age of 14 to 18, there were no positives in my life. Everything that could go wrong did,” he said.
“Every night was a bad night.”
He eventually moved into a boys’ home, where he would finally meet a positive role model.
“While I was going off the rails, I met a coloured South African man who was in his forties,” Sen Const Eddy said.
“He had spent his whole life not being able to drink from the same water fountain or walk on the same side of the streets as a white man. He had struggled with that his whole life- and here I was … I just thought enough was enough, so I moved to Australia to start a new life.”
At the age of 22, Sen Const Eddy bought a ticket to Australia. He arrived at 8.30am on Australia Day with a backpack full of clothes and $75 cash.
He had no place to live, but had planned to go to Sydney and find his brother, who he had not seen since he was eight years old.
He bought a ticket to Sydney, but before he made the trek, he decided to stop at a nearby hotel in Melbourne to get some breakfast.
“I walked into the hotel, and there was my brother,” he said.
“It was phenomenal.”
From that point onwards, life started turning for the better. He made a wage as a carpenter, got married and had three children. He even went back home to be by his father as he passed away.
“It was a great thing to do,” he said, “because I finally looked at him like a human being and not a monster.”
But it wasn’t until 1994, at age 36, that he joined the police academy.
“There was a building recession, and I just needed to make an income,” he said.
“I needed to feed my three children.”
He was no stranger to the physical element that came with being a police officer, having always turned to running as a way to deal with stress and to avoid alcohol and drug use.
Until January 2007, Sen Const Macdonald did shift work, but the position was taking a physical toll on him and he decided it was time to switch his role.
Now the Region 5 Crime Prevention Officer, Senior Constable Macdonald has noticed a dramatic drop in youth crime and believes it is in large part due to the newly implemented programs aimed at disadvantaged youth.
Participants don’t go to formal meetings. Instead, they socialise with Sen Const Macdonald when they meet in the community.
They can partake in a variety of programs.
During each program, Sen Const Macdonald said they acknowledged the land they were on to provide youth with a sense of acceptance and belonging.
Backyard rugby is among one of the most popular programs for disengaged youth.
The youngest player is a seven-year-old girl, and the oldest is a 60-year-old man.
Youth have also become part of South Pacific Dance groups, or the POLYneziANZ dance group.
“The youth in the programs liked the name and came up with their own words for the T-shirt: Making a Difference,” Sen Const Macdonald said.
Youth have also joined forces to raise money for bushfire victims and have donated sporting equipment to young children.
“It’s about getting kids who suffered their own tragedies in life to help other kids who have suffered tragedies in theirs,” he said.
About seven people took part in the programs when they began more than a year ago. That number quickly rose to 25, then 75.
Though largely based in Dandenong, Sen Const Macdonald said he wanted to expand the programs to Narre Warren, then eventually Pakenham.
He said he has been ‘blown away’ by the popularity of the programs, but would not take credit for the success.
“I’m not a social worker, I am more of a mentor,” Sen Const Macdonald said.
“These are programs for young people, by young people.
“It’s about working with disadvantaged youth and turning them into role models. We want to empower then and let them give back to the community.”
Sen Const Macdonald also said community support was vital in making such programs a success. As well as working with youth, Sen Const Macdonald’s other duties involve offering advice about crime prevention to community groups, home owners and businesses. Anyone wanting to contact Sen Const Macdonald can do so on his mobile: 0408 303 066.