Well-known Sebastopol identity Des Hudson says his passion for improving the lives and outcomes of young people is because ‘they are our future’.
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The police officer and current City of Ballarat councillor has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in Saturday’s celebrations.
Mr Hudson said he was “very honoured and very proud” of the recognition, which he received for services to the city’s young people.
He has been Victoria Police’s Ballarat youth resource officer since 2005, having facilitated school visits by police for nine years previous.
“(The youth) are the next generation of custodians,” he said.
“Not all young people are born into families where everything is ‘normal’, as we would say. There are some young people who are born into very chaotic families, and don’t have the same opportunities.
- Des Hudson, OAM
“Where we can work with young people to try and strengthen their decision-making, to have them understand the consequences of their actions, and try to divert them away from the criminal justice system is really ... a positive.”
With memories of “knocking on doors for the Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal” with his Mum and Dad, Mr Hudson said community service always “ran through his genes”.
“It’s just been a natural progression to get involved myself,” he said
LISTEN TO THE COURIER’S FULL INTERVIEW WITH DES HUDSON HERE
Mr Hudson has been a councillor with City of Ballarat since 2002, and was mayor in 2015-2016.
As a Blue Light Victoria State Council member – ABBA always gets a run if he’s able to get in the DJ’s ear – his involvement with Ballarat’s disco has become a family affair.
“My wife runs the canteen, my daughter runs the music, and I have some friends that help out in the canteen, with music and social media,” he said. “Being able to have the support of family and friends in some of those other events which are put on for young people makes you feel really proud.”
But unsurprisingly, there’s more he wants to achieve.
For the Ballarat and District Suicide Prevention Network, which trains 100 residents to be able to talk those who may be considering suicide, he hopes a media and advertising campaign will get off the ground this year.
“Just having people aware of having a conversation with someone, that is probably the most effective thing we can do,” he said.
“For us to become suicide-alert, and be confident in having that conversation and no be afraid of the ‘d-word’ if people are contemplating ending their life.
“It’s just a really humbling experience to get an Order of Australia award for what is in essence my paid job.
“When you see the smiles on people’s faces, to know you can make a little bit of difference in the lives of others, it is enormously worthwhile.”