When Gary was near, you'd often hear him before you saw him. 

 

A self-proclaimed stubborn loudmouth, Gary was always quick to find friends – which meant there was no shortage of people willing to offer him a couch to sleep on while he travelled all over Australia with his guitar. From Darwin to Perth, Albany to Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns and back to Perth, whether it had four strings or two, he just loved the sound of the guitar and the way it drew people to him. 

 

When Gary found himself couch surfing after the breakup of his long-term relationship, it didn't really strike him as homelessness. After all, he'd been a successful owner of an events management company, flying back and forth across Australia and the world, managing famous entertainers and consulting large firms. Now, it seemed, he was just journeying back and forth in a different way. 

 

Back in Perth, Gary began visiting support services like Uniting WA's Tranby Engagement Hub. It was here that Gary was referred to the Homeless Accommodation Support Service (HASS), where he lived for about a year. During this time, Gary kept going to Tranby and hanging out with the staff and friends he made along the way. 

 

"And it was just lucky that I, you know, I had a bit of a mouthpiece. I could talk to everybody, you know. I'm a hunter and gatherer. I'm a bloody nuisance, I suppose." Gary often describes his vocal and outspoken personality as one of his strengths. 

 

A member of the First Nations community, Gary eventually decided to return to Country and move to Southern Cross with his daughter. Here, he reconnected with his culture; the one his grandfather had taught him before he was removed from his parents to Roelands Mission in WA as a part of the Stolen Generations.  

 

Gary believes that when you reclaim your heritage, it opens a special path for you, one of strength, pride, and self-understanding. It's a path that gives you the strength to manage the trauma of being taken from your family by the authorities. The trauma of not being able to be a son to your mother and father.  

 

While living in Southern Cross with his daughter, Gary began writing a book, Nunngurrie, which means ‘Traditional Healer'. The book, which is still in development, is about Gary's work as a traditional healer and his experience working with people. 

 

Around this time, Gary received a call about a public housing unit available for him to live in. His Uniting WA support workers had kept his name on the waitlist. Initially, Gary was reluctant, after living on Country and thinking about the significant change he would be adjusting to. However, he had a change of heart when he walked through the front door – a humble clothesline and an unassuming banana tree sealing the deal.  

 

Some deep breaths, memories of home in Darwin, the outback, the red dirt, and the simple things that brought him joy, Gary was home after all.