RYAN LOVIE

SHORT APPROPRIATE VERSION:
George Middleton had a very troubled childhood and as a young adult abused drugs and alcohol, perhaps as a way to escape his upbringing. Which could of been result from his mother leaving his father for a woman while he was still in high school. George and his older brother moved out together to get away from the troubles at home. Not too long after he became a roadie for a few well-known bands, it was always easy for George to get access to drugs, and drinking was just part of the territory, as was the loud music. It wasn’t until his Father gave him a hearing examination that George began to realize that being a roadie wasn’t the best way to live his life.

Deciding to follow down a different road in his young life straying away from loud music and drugs, George applied for a job at a non-profit organization. Where he was stationed at foster care homes. George felt it as though it has always been his calling to help people who can’t help themselves, he learnt about young kids and their addiction drugs and sexual abuse. As his knowledge on the subject grew from experience, he was requested to volunteer at local high schools and inform students about drugs and sex. George would walk into a classroom and introduce himself as George and tell the class he was here to talk about sex and drugs. They could ask him anything about the subject and he would answer them.

Besides from gaining knowledge George has withstood abuse from young adolescents struggling from drug addiction who have in cases shown violent behaviour. With such a tough and demanding job George has still managed to stay with his partner Irene. George still says the best part of his job is that he has managed to help somebody out there even if it is only a small amount over a decade, it still pleases him to hear that he’s made a difference.

LENGTHY DETAILED VERSION:
George Middleton was one of two young boys of a family of five children. In the middle of his kindergarten year his whole family went backpacking around Europe where they stayed at hostiles.

George’s father was a doctor and his mother was a psychologist, both were well known professionals in their fields. They separated when George was in High School, his mother announced she was a lesbian. George’s Father remarried and didn’t want anything to do with his past Wife or her family. George’s Mother later died of cancer, when George was in his mid 20s.
After his parents separated George moved out with his older brother Ian and rented a house, where he lived until he finished High School. George worked at a Pub with a close friend from high school to make the rent.

After High School George applied for a job at a non-profit organization, he was stationed at halfway house for adolescents aged between 16 and 25. He did grueling 6 hour rotating shifts, with only a staff of 3. George ended up getting the job only for mentioning his parent’s occupation at the interview.
George moved to Melbourne where he became a roadie for some well-known rock bands. As a roadie, he abused drugs and alcohol for a good few years, and got caught up in the rock and roll life. George slowly began to lose hearing from the constant loud music. His father gave him a hearing test. Where his father advised him to stop working as a roadie or he would lose his hearing completely.

George kept working at halfway homes for a while George felt it has always been his calling to help people who can’t help themselves, he learnt about young kids and their addiction drugs and sexual abuse. He showed particular empathy for young males who were used in prostitution and picked up STDs.

From his wide knowledge of substance abuse and sexual abuse at the age of 30 he was requested to volunteer at local high schools and inform students about drugs and sex. George would walk into a class room and introduce himself as George and tell the class he was here to talk about sex and drugs and that they could ask him anything about the subject and he would answer them. Even at Catholic Schools where teachers were upset about him speaking so openly. Eventually he became highly regarded and was continually asked back to speak to more students for his honesty and knowledge of drugs, alcohol and sex.

With such a tough and demanding job George has still managed over 15 years to stay with his partner Irene.

Now at the age 45 George has worked with many organizations and has lectured for drug and alcohol abuse for the Essendon AFL team, Melbourne Storm and most recently Melbourne Train drivers. George will leave to England in a month for a conference on drug and alcohol abuse where he will be one of the main speakers.