Meet your vendor.
When I was born my mum wasn’t able to cope on her own, because my father ended up in jail. She used to constantly move, trying to keep me away from DoCS, because of what happened with my brother years before I was born. I’d spend about a year-and-a-half at the most at any one school. My older brother was born in Canberra in 1974: Michael Raymond, last name either Johnson or Jarvis. He was given up for adoption, and I’ve been looking for him for years.
I was in Year 9 when I became homeless. After that I gave up on schooling to basically survive. I was 16. I was kicked out onto the streets by my stepfather when my mum went in for a minor procedure, because he and I never saw eye to eye. I was homeless for over two years: rough sleeping, couch surfing in Geelong.
The Big Issue actually helped me get off the streets. I had someone approach me from Salvation Army Social Housing Services about doing The Big Issue. They said, “Here’s an opportunity for you to work, and we can work behind the scenes to help you get your own place.” And sure enough, they did. That was 20-odd years ago. I went back to TAFE, and ended up getting my Certificate in Transport and Logistics. I was driving both trucks and buses.
In October last year, I got married. I had met Deb online. I was talking to her on a chat program regarding our common interest, our trauma. I ended up moving from Geelong to Newcastle to be with her. But in the Hunter Valley, housing prices were getting too expensive, so we found a place in the western suburbs of Melbourne, where we’ve been for 15 years plus.
Our daughter Faye is now seven years of age. When she was born, I felt she was too precious to handle, so I was sort of quite reserved for a while. But she gives me hope, she’s making me want to be better.
I introduced Deb to The Big Issue, and we ended up getting introduced to The Big Issue Classroom. Being vulnerable and exposing your lived experience of being on the streets to students aged 13 to 18 is quite daunting at times, but very rewarding. It’s an acknowledgement of what I’ve been through, how far I’ve progressed.
In my twenties, I reconciled with my mum. My stepfather later passed from dementia, so my relationship with my mum was quite good. She was also a vendor in Geelong.
I can say quite honestly, if it wasn’t for The Big Issue, I wouldn’t be here. If it wasn’t for my customers, I don’t think I’d want to get out of bed some days because I have PTSD. Having customers appreciate the job I do on the streets makes me feel like I can just about do anything now, as long as I’ve got support behind me.
Mary sells The Big Issue at 707 Collins St and in Melton, Melbourne
Interview by Amy Hetherington
Photo by James Braund
Published in ed#750