Originally a country boy, John moved to 47 Henry Street, Lilyfield, when he was seven. He knew Callan Park like the back of his hand, having explored it as a boy and as an adult he walked his dogs regularly in its grounds. So when the state government made it clear it wanted to close the hospital and sell parts of the parklands for development, John (as we knew him) King was one of the first to join the fight.

He was a founding member of the Friends in 1998 and on the executive for a number of years after that. In those early years he was also a regular member of delegations to see ministers.

John King appeared to be a conservative in politics although that did not stop him joining in demonstrations and working with people with a radically different outlook to his.

He was an active part of that broad spectrum of political opinion in our community that has united around the campaign to save Callan Park. Our success is due in no small part to the John Kings of our community.

On behalf of the Friends I extend our sympathy to John’s family and friends.

Hall Greenland

This Year’s theme is ‘Faces in the Park’ with outdoor poster exhibitions and guided walks that include history and stories from the community, former patients and staff.

Guided walking tours will run from 11am to 2pm and there’ll be a hop on / off bus circulating around the park from 11am to 2pm.

Afternoon tea will also be available on the Verandah of the NSW Writers Centre.

Bookings are essential. Cost $10

Where - Callan Park - main entrance at intersection of Darling & Cecily Streets, Rozelle

When - 12 September, 2010

Enquiries -9560 9263 - Carole Allen or focp.admin@gmail.com

You can also download the PDF Flyer with all the details (PDF 97K)  History Week 2010

Be part of a workshop dedicated to Mental Health, exploring a range of different mental health services that could be offered at Callan Park.

Light refreshments will be provided so please RSVP by Monday 23 August to Annalene Lourenco or Danielle King at Leichhardt Council on 9367 9285 or by email Leichhardt@lmc.nsw.gov.au.

Workshop 6
10:30am - 1:30pm
Saturday 28th August
Venue: Callan Park Recreation Hall (Building B504 bottom of Wharf Rd)

Join us when we begin to transform the project principles into master plan ideas for Callan Park.

Light refreshments will be provided so please RSVP by Thursday 26 August to Annalene Lourenco or Danielle King at Leichhardt Council on 9367 9285 or by email Leichhardt@lmc.nsw.gov.au.

They would like to hear from the Friends on Mental Health, Heritage & Public Consultation.

The meeting starts at 7pm at the Writers Centre and all are welcome.

PRISONERS who have a mental illness and a drug or alcohol problem have a 67 per cent chance of reoffending and ending up back in jail. The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research has found this is significantly higher than for other prisoners.

In a report published yesterday, the bureau’s director, Don Weatherburn, said rates of recidivism could be reduced if offenders were given intensive treatment for their psychiatric and substance abuse problems when they were released from jail.

The study looked at 1208 NSW prisoners who took part in a mental health survey by the government agency Justice Health in 2001. Each person’s mental status was then linked to the state’s re-offending database to track their criminal history for five years before entering prison and 24 months after release. It found two out of three prisoners reoffended within 24 months.

After controlling for other factors, such as gender, age, indigenous status and number of prior court appearances, the study found the risk of reoffending was significantly higher for prisoners with a co-morbid psychiatric and substance disorder, at 67 per cent.
There was little difference in the risk of re-offending between those without either a mental health or drug problem (51 per cent), those with a drug problem only (55 per cent) and those with a mental illness only (49 per cent).

”Increased investment in treating prisoners with a co-morbid mental health disorder would not only make the community safer but it would also save money by reducing the rate of reoffending and return to prison,” Dr Weatherburn said.

The study reiterated that mental illness and drug problems were more prevalent among prisoners than the general population. Just 23.8 per cent of prisoners reported neither issue.

An offender’s mental health status and substance misuse were amenable to change with effective treatment, the report said.

We invite you to tell your story with a photograph and short statement.

Every year in September, Friends of Callan Park participate in History Week. This year the official theme of History Week is Faces in the Street.

FOCP would like to highlight the stories of people or families who have an association past or present with Callan Park and have taken a slightly different slant - Faces across the Landscape.

We are looking for stories from:

• People who worked at Callan Park or Broughton Hall
• Gardeners
• Patients
• Dog walkers
• Sports people
• Walkers
• Adults, children and students

We plan to display story boards of Faces in the Park. For example, a photograph of your team or group, or even your dog’s picture, together with a short maximum 100-words story of what Callan Park means to you.

This material will be displayed at various points around Callan Park to coincide with our Bus and Walking Tours as part of NSW History Week 2010.

Your participation would be much appreciated and our deadline for receipt of your stories or photos is 15 JULY 2010

Please telephone &/or leave a message if you think you can contribute:

Margaret ARMSTRONG 9810 4217 or Carole ALLEN 9560 9263

or email FOCP.admin@gmail.com

Further details on all the history week events can also be found at  www.historycouncilnsw.org.au

History Week 2010 events start on Sunday, 12 September.

You can download a copy of both documents below.

Callan Park - Tender Document for Masterplan (522.45kB)

List of companies who submitted tenders for Masterplan Services - Callan Park Rozelle (9.87kB)

Before this week’s COAG meeting, there were expectations that a major funding announcement on mental health would be part of the deal. But that was not to be: of the extra $5 billion put on the table over the two-day meeting, only $174 million was set aside for mental health. Those working in the sector are furious and argue that the best way to reduce pressure on emergency wards and hospital beds is to treat people with mental illness in the community before they need to be hospitalised.

Ian Hickie Executive director of the Brain and Mind Research Institute at the University of Sydney spoke with Fran Kelly on Radio National’s Breakfast program.  You can watch a video of the interview by following the link below.

Ian Hickie Interview on Radio National

“The Greens have a fully developed, integrated plan for mental health
which I urge Mr Rudd to consider if he is serious about building a
reformed and effective health system”, said Greens health spokesperson,
Senator Rachel Siewert.

“It is clear the current model of mental health care isn’t working. A
range of different approaches are needed to keep people well and out of
hospital longer by successfully managing their illness at home,” Senator
Siewert said.

“Mental health is a glaring omission from the PM’s health package and
this is his chance to get it right by including our sensible, considered
plan.

“Australia has been under investing in this area for a long time and the
Greens plan calls for additional funding for the mental health budget of
$5 billion.

Greens plan includes:
* $100 million for funding of community prevention and recovery
centres
* $145 million for early intervention programs
* $100 million incentive payments to provide services for the most
vulnerable in our community.

“Under our proposal existing Medicare mental health schedule fees would
be supplemented by incentive payments for GPs; consulting psychiatrists
and psychologists working together to provide additional access and
services for the most needy, vulnerable and long-term clientele working
within community and NGO sector.

“Every hospital-based mental health service should be linked with a
multi-disciplinary community-based sub-acute service that supports
’stepped’ prevention and recovery care. $100 million would pay for 60
community-based services with 8-12 beds per centre.

“We need a national network of one-stop shop community mental health
centres accessible by public transport and centrally location, 24 hour
on-duty and on-call mobile crisis teams working as part of primary
health care organisations. There needs to be additional training for GPs
and nurses to triage mental health appropriately, and there should be a
mental health professional on 24hr call within every emergency
department.

“We have already called on the government to fund early intervention
mental health programs including: Communities of Youth services, early
psychosis prevention and intervention services, Lifeline suicide
hospital discharge and treatment plan and a new Lifeline freecall
number,” Senator Siewert said.

What’s happening with the Callan Park Master Plan

Leichhardt Council has begun advertising for consultants to coordinate the drawing up the Master Plan for Callan Park.

Already more than 40 consulting firms have expressed interest in what will be the contract of the year for planning firms.  Callan Park, after all, is one of Sydney’s iconic sites.

Mental Health is back in the news and Callan Park is still on the agend.

Faced with the fact that thousands of people are in jail or homeless because they have a serious (but treatable) mental illness and that far too many of them will take their own lives without proper hospital treatment or community support.

The Friends of Callan Park favour the return of a psychiatric hospital or more precisely, the establishment of a centre of mental health excellence in Callan Park. - (read more in the latest newsleter)

You can download a full copy of the newleter below.

Callan Park Newsletter April 2010 (PDF 1.1M)