To me, my recovery means more than going back to the way I was before I became unwell.

It means being more actively involved in living, and becoming part of the community in which I live.

That’s why I got involved with the Celebrate Recovery Walk held by Recovery Academy Australia.

I put my hand up to help out with the walk so I could learn first-hand what was involved in organising such an event. Being new to the RAA movement and being a shy type of person, I chose to stick to the role of “fetch and carry” rather than take on too much responsibility too soon.

I was just happy to give back to an event that provides inspiration for those recovering from addiction, and be involved in the promotion of recovery as something to be celebrated rather than simply taken as “normal”.

The event, supported by several organisations including staff, clients and carers from Knox Community Health Service’s Alcohol Tobacco & other Drugs counseling team, gives people hope of staying healthy and transforming into a person who gives back.

On the day of the event, I drove into the city with the sound equipment, t-shirts, banners and some other bits and pieces.

It was just as well we arrived early, because I found an anxious-faced person waiting for someone friendly to come along.

Over the next hour or so, the remaining volunteers arrived to set up. The walkers gradually gathered to register and don their t-shirts. After some motivational words from RAA committee members Heather Pickard, David Best and Jock Mackenzie, the celebrators grouped behind their banners and happily marched off from Federation Square along the path beside the river.

We drove to the meeting point near the Botanical Gardens where the barbeques were already sizzling with snags and onions – overseen by an overly-friendly swan! We arrived just after the two hundred-strong crowd, who said they had a lovely walk. I felt like I’d missed out on something special.

We chatted casually around while eating our hearty, if not entirely healthy lunch.

I was surprised at how many walking, running and rowing things passed us by. I asked myself if this what people do every Sunday morning…

Eventually people begin to depart after eating their fill. After bidding farewell to our curious swan and leaving her some scraps we headed back to base at the Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC) in Carnegie and headed to our various homes – each of us taking away a little piece of the celebration.