mmg.com.au

Echuca-Moama drug users and their families have sought drug counselling services following a community awareness night at Moama Bowling Club last week.

Organiser Scott Beattie, coach of Echuca United Football Club, said he was overwhelmed with the response to the forum, which attracted about 450 people.

Mr Beattie said several people and families had sought help as a result of the forum.

‘‘At the start of the forum, I wanted to be able to help just one person,’’ he said.

‘‘To hear that people have since gone to access help for themselves or a family member is awesome.

‘‘The idea of the forum was to educate people and to help people access the help they need.

‘‘I think that if you walked away from the night having not learnt anything then you were not listening.’’

Mr Beattie said the forum had generated interest from sporting leagues and clubs outside the region.

‘‘It has been widely publicised in the media. There has been plenty of interest in it,’’ he said.

Mr Beattie said Echuca, Echuca United and Moama football club presidents and junior delegates would meet on Monday to discuss a common drugs policy for all three clubs.

‘‘I think this is probably the first time that the three clubs have worked together on an issue,’’ he said.

‘‘At this meeting we will hopefully have all three clubs in a four kilometre radius adhering to the same set of rules.’’

Mr Beattie said following the meeting of the football clubs, a community meeting will be on Wednesday, February 13, at the Border Inn, starting at 5.30pm, to establish a committee to tackle the issue of drugs in the community.

‘‘It will not be a big night in terms of numbers, but it will be for passionate people who want to help,’’ he said.