Geraldton locals to learn “tough love”

CORRECTION: An earlier online version of this story stated the Tough Love seminars had already taken place. In fact, the Mid West seminars will take place in November. The Geraldton Guardian apologises for the error.

The founder of a well-known men’s rehabilitation centre will held a seminar encouraging Geraldton people to learn about “tough love”.

Peter Lyndon-James said his seminars equipped families to deal with a person caught up in life-controlling issues such as drugs.

“It could be a gambling addiction, it could be a pornography addiction, virtually anything that can stop a person living a normal happy productive life,” he said.

“A lot of families think they’re doing the right thing when dealing with addiction, in actual fact they are doing the wrong thing.”

Mr Lyndon-James said many parents and families had difficulty kicking that person out.

“They hear another voice saying ‘but I can’t do that to my son’,” he said.

“But when you remove the person from the house it changes the atmosphere.

“I show the person how they can change their life but I also specialise in equipping the families how to bring that person to the point of making that decision to want to change.”

Mr Lyndon-James said he was no stranger to dysfunctional family life, having spent 26 years in boy’s institutions and jails after his family broke up while he was still in primary school.

“In 2001 I got out of jail and I started selling drugs and within three months I was selling an average of two and a half kilos of methamphetamine a day,” he said.

“I used to get raided by police a fair bit, helicopters over the roof, tactical response going through the doors front and back.”

Mr Lyndon-James said he then had what he called a “divine encounter” after which he gave away his drug money and everything he thought was stolen, pleaded guilty to charges and served another prison term.

He then spent three years at a bible college and worked in a drug rehabilitation centre for five years before founding Shalom House in the Swan Valley.

Mr Lyndon-James plans to deliver the Tough Love seminar at Dongara on Thursday, November 2, at a venue to be confirmed.

He will speak on Friday, November 3, at John Willcock College in the morning, Greenough Regional Prison in the afternoon and Rovers Football Club in the evening.

On the morning of Saturday, November 4, he will chat with Lee Weaver from podcast Hear Me Out Geraldton, and the Geraldton Tough Love seminar will take place from 1pm to 6pm at POSH Events and Functions Centre, Marine Terrace.

People who wish to attend the free seminars are asked to text 0451 137 757 or email toughlove@lyndon james.com.au.

On Sunday, November 5, Mr Lyndon-James will speak at the Lighthouse Church, Shenton Street, from 9am.