A sense of belonging
Brisbane Streetlevel Mission’s Hans Van Der Vlist (left) and Collin Hammant (right) in front of the Streetlevel coffee van. (Photo supplied by Brisbane Streetlevel Mission)
After a freak accident took his friend’s life, Collin lived beneath a shadow of guilt and misery that nearly ate him apart entirely.
Getting out of bed each morning and performing basic day-to-day activities was a constant battle. It has taken Collin years to reach a place where he is capable of committing himself to a stable job and regular routine but he believes it is the support of The Salvation Army’s Streetlevel Mission that has made all the difference.
Born into a loving Christian home, at 14 years old Collin’s life was turned upside down after witnessing a close friend’s sudden death. A fun-filled day at the river with family and friends quickly escalated into disaster when the young boy was run over by a boat and killed. Collin and his family made it home, but it was a shattered version of the warm and joyful family that lived there before.
Collin’s father stopped work after the accident, unable to cope with what had happened. Haunted by the memory of the accident, Collin carried a strong sense of guilt for many years, blaming himself for the sequence of events leading to his friend’s death.
Lacking motivation, at 16 Collin left school and entered the workforce. With no clear aspirations, he fell into deep depression, turning to marijuana and the drug speed to escape the overriding sense of emptiness that entrapped him.
After getting married in 2000, Collin admitted himself into the Moonyah rehabilitation clinic in pursuit of a life free from addictions. Over the next nine months, Collin committed himself to the program, reintroduced to a Christian way of life.
Collin had always believed in God, but after the death of his friend as a child he had struggled to accept God’s role in taking a life so young. Gradually, Collin started to regain his trust in God.
After completing the program at Moonyah, Collin and his wife began a new life. Starting a magazine for their local bowls club, their success was short lived. After losing rights to the magazine, Collin turned back to marijuana and lost sight of his hopes for a better life.
In 2008, Collin’s life took a turn for the worse when he started hearing voices.
The voices became so loud they prevented Collin from coping with everyday life. He had developed schizophrenia and his condition was so severe it intervened in every aspect of his life, driving a major wedge between him and his wife. It took doctors almost three years to find the correct medication to offer Collin some relief, but by this time it was too late to salvage his marriage.
Still fighting schizophrenia, Collin made the conscious decision to change, quitting marijuana and seeking proper healthcare treatment.
Collin was introduced to the Streetlevel Mission and, for the first time in years, finally felt he belonged somewhere.
“The most positive thing for me has been finding a group of people I can confide in,” he says. “Just simply talking to people and allowing myself to be honest and open about my experiences has helped me accept what has happened and welcome God back into my life.”
Today, Collin works as a barista for the Streetlevel coffee van and his spare time is spent volunteering for the Salvation Army and offering his support to others in need. He has found contentment in his Bible studies and plans to continue developing his faith in the future.
“I’m finally at a place where things are going right, I feel like I have a purpose and a chance at a normal life, and that’s something I never thought was possible before.”
Report by Jenna Green.
Jenna is studying Marketing and Public Relations at QUT
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