Suzanne Burns – The Accidental Social Worker

January 25, 2021
by Rodney Olsen
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Life for Suzanne Burns went off the rails when she left home as a young woman. From a very sheltered upbringing, she soon found herself using drugs and alcohol and shortly afterwards becoming a single mother.

Suzanne has spent the last 20 years serving others. Part of that service includes being the founder and executive director of Foundation House, a maternity home for pregnant and homeless women, which offers educational and job training programs.

Her story is inspiring and she is this week’s guest on Bleeding Daylight. Find Bleeding Daylight wherever you listen to podcasts or at listen by pressing play on the audio player below.



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Putting Alcohol on Hold

February 1, 2011
by Rodney Olsen
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The first month of 2011 is over and we’re into the first day of February. It’s also the start of FebFast for thousands of people across Australia.

FebFast is a fundraising campaign that invites people to participate in an alcohol free February, and at the same time raise funds to support organisations working in research, prevention and service delivery concerning the use of alcohol and other drugs by young people.

Our annual health and charity event encourages people to forgo alcohol in February while raising vital money to support young people with alcohol and other drug related issues.

The event creates an opportunity for people to ‘press the pause button’ on their busy lifestyles and create a clear space to plan for a more balanced year ahead.

Over the past three years we have seen more than 10,700 people take up the FebFast challenge to live February alcohol-free. Collectively these people have raised more than $1,700,000.

FebFast funds are distributed to organisations that work to reduce alcohol and other drug related harms amongst young people through research, prevention and service delivery programs.

So what do you think? Could you give up drinking for a month?

I find that whole months can go past without me having a drink anyway. I’m not what you’d call a big drinker. 🙂 I enjoy a glass of red wine now and then and an occasional beer (especially Beez Neez) but I’ve never been drunk.

I wonder how many people would find that they’re more hooked on drinking than they thought if they had to give it up for a month.

What are your thoughts on drinking? Do you only drink to get drunk? Do you prefer not to drink at all? I’d be very interested in your thoughts.



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Could you give up alcohol for a month?

January 20, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
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FebFast is a fundraising campaign that invites people to participate in a booze-free February, and at the same time raise funds to support organisations working in research, prevention and service delivery concerning the use of alcohol and other drugs by young people.

FebFast founder Fiona Healy joined me on 98.5 Sonshine FM recently to talk about the initiative.

Over the past two years we have seen more than 3,500 people take up the FebFast challenge to give up the grog for a month. Collectively these people have raised more than $700,000 to support our cause.

Funds from our last two campaigns have been distributed to 13 organisations around Australia.

Proceeds from our 2010 registration and fundraising efforts will be shared amongst the Australian Drug Foundation (that operates nationally), YSAS (the Youth Substance Abuse Service) in Victoria, The Ted Noffs Foundation in NSW and the ACT, Mater Hospital’s Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Service in Queensland and FebFast’s grants program for smaller grass-roots organisations.

You can listen to our discussion by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

So what do you think? Could you give up drinking for a month?

I find that whole months can go past without me having a drink anyway. I’m not what you’d call a big drinker. 🙂 I enjoy a glass of red wine now and then and an occasional beer (especially Bees Knees) but I’ve never been drunk.

What are your thoughts on drinking? Do you only drink to get drunk? Do you prefer not to drink at all? I’d be very interested in your thoughts.

[audio:http://mpegmedia.sonshinefm.ws/feeds/MOR130110_1515.mp3]

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John James in Perth

February 26, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
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JohnJames.bmpThe Newsboys began their life in Queensland, Australia, back in the early eighties.

Since then they’ve sold millions of albums, been nominated for several Grammies, taken home a swag of Dove awards as well as being recognised through several other industry awards. They’ve also played to sell out arena shows of up to 200 000 people in the U.S. and Europe.

While virtually unknown in their home land, they’ve consistently been up there with the top earners amongst Australian performers, outselling most of our other home-grown talent.

Their original lead singer, John James, left the band and show business in 1997. These days he visits schools and speaks to young people about the trappings of success and living a life of integrity.

John James joined me in the studio today as part of my morning radio programme at 98.5 Sonshine FM.

John has an amazing story to tell of The Newsboys meteoric rise to fame and the toll it took on his life and his marriage. He left the band after becoming addicted to cocaine and battling depression and alcohol abuse.

Today John is very much a changed man. His relationship with his wife and children is restored and he spends his days telling young people about the turn around in his life.

You can hear the interview by clicking play on the audio player at the bottom of this post.



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