Support Maggie for long term independence
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Hello, my name is Elizabeth Siebel, Maggie Siebel’s mum, the organizer of this campaign. I would like to share with you her story of schizophrenia she was diagnosed with at the age of 21 and how this impacted her life and mine of course, now being her sole carer at the age of 69.
Maggie is now 42 years old now. She spent half her life so far with this sickness, challenging everything we understand and know.
This is Maggie now. The campaign picture was taken in 1997. She was 19 then.
The sickness
Just after her 21st birthday in 1999, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia and hospitalized initially for a few weeks for observation and treatment. The few weeks became 7 years, including time spent it the closed mental health unit in Townsville followed by lengthy rehabilitation.
After seven years she was discharged and sent home with significant medication side effects, including posturing and pacing thought the house 90% of her waking time. She was grinding her teeth constantly, even during sleep.
Maggie could not be left on her own. With the help of a local mental health service provider she was granted a care package, which in time began to pay off in getting her involved in various activities, exercise and social interaction.
The beginning of recovery
In the next couple of years, the side effects gradually subsided, she finally stopped grinding her teeth and the pacing and posturing gradually diminished. She became more and more interested in doing something more meaningful. With the help of the support service she was able to enroll at Townsville TAFE Culinary School. The condition was that a carer had to be present while in class. By 2012 she completed Cert II in hospitality, and we were informed by TAFE in Townsville that Maggie could not continue into Cert III, because it was too risky for TAFE to accept the responsibility.
During 2012 I was invited to a Mental Health conference in Melbourne, where I met representatives from Chisholm TAFE, who reassured me that they would accept Maggie as a student, and she could complete her course without an apprenticeship. They have also indicated that they have a very active network and will assist Maggie to secure an apprenticeship.
So, in late 2013 we have sold our house in Townsville and moved to Melbourne. We purchased a two-bedroom unit in Narre Warren, Maggie enrolled at the Chisholm TAFE and completed not only Cert III, but Cert IV both in Commercial Cooking and Patisserie. We have made numerous applications for apprenticeships and jobs, she managed to secure a job in one of the community service outlets, with a promise of training in food preparation. After working two years washing dishes for $ 11.08 per hour, we realized that the promised training was never forthcoming.
Maggie grew in self confidence during this time, even more determined that she wanted to work in the hospitality industry and particularly she wanted to be a proficient cook. We launched in to apply for every job advertised on various sites with not only not results, but not even a single reply. A disability services agency told us we should just be happy that she had a job and that “people like her” in their experience would never progress further. Really??
Next Steps
We learned that we made a tidy profit on the unit, that would enable us to by a unit in regional Victoria and invest the profit in buying a small restaurant or cafe where Maggie could work and learn. We found a place in Sale Victoria, a small classy restaurant at a price we can afford, with plenty of cash flow to cover any possible challenging times. The Due Diligence report indicated the business was viable, though it was not making startling profits.
So, we made the move to Sale, purchased the business and a nice unit, for less than half the Melbourne market. We were on our way to achieve the objective to give Maggie a meaningful vocation and life. We started off in the “low” season, but still made enough to cover all expenses and have a bit left over.
The Crasshhh
Eight weeks into the project, I suffered what was thought to be a heart attack and was flown to the hospital in Melbourne. Recovery was slow, with other health complications and by Christmas 2018 it has taken a toll on the business.
Then came the fires in January and February 2019, coupled with the long running drought; buy this time, the “low” season turnover was halved from the normal “low” season and continued declining. I have put all remaining funds I had left into paying creditors and taxes.
The Consequences
In late May 2019 we borrowed money for cash flow from a short-term lender, in hope that business will recover after the nightmare summer. We had some success in June and July, but not enough to make a long-term difference.
In September 2019 I no choice but to close the business down, as we did not even make enough to pay wages. The administrators done their job with the company closure, but we are left with a commercial debt of $ 53 K, which I am personally liable.
What I have done to get out of this mess
For the last five months we have tried to sell the unit, 4 inspections in 5 months. We learned regional markets a good to buy into, but near impossible to sell. 470 properties on the market in Sale, with around 15 sales per month! Impossible.
Effectively this commercial lender can put me into bankruptcy, cease the property and put us out on the street, followed by some months of “fire sale”, hefty administration cost, leaving us with no funds to rent or move out of the region.
Nice mess, all with the best intentions, calculated risk and unforeseen circumstances in-between. I am too old to borrow money, though have a small part time job from home it is not enough to appease the lender.
How will Maggie benefit?
My greatest concern is that Maggie may have to face homelessness because of the actions I have taken to try to give her a life away from the normal “mental illness” environment. Not because mental illness environment (meaning care, social and opportunities isolation) is bad, but because we tried to make a difference and show that recovery is possible. Yes, it is, but at what price?
Maggie spent half of her life with this sickness and subsequent partial recovery, she has lost most of the things young people take for granted, including the full opportunity to be gainfully employed, family, children. The recovery is partial because she will have to remain on medication for the long term, limiting her ability to commute and negotiate life’s twists and turns on her own.
This modest unit in Sale was to be her inheritance. If we lose it, she is left with nothing.
How soon will we need the funds?
This creditor now is putting an immense pressure on, and it is urgent. In their correspondence 2 weeks ago, they have indicated that they will take the “next steps”.
Conclusion
I want to thank everyone, including family and friends taking the time to read this lengthy explanation as to what has happened to us. I don’t care about myself; I can live anywhere. Maggie will always be on medication and has regular monthly medical attendance to check on her condition. This impacts one her ability to sustain a job in the long term, while I want to be positive, will continue to be impacted by her condition.
I know we are all tired of recent troubles, bush fires, drought and the current national emergency. I like to ask anyone who reads this to be compassionate and circulate this plea for donations in your networks. Again, thank you in advance for any assistance and God bless you all!
Maggie is now 42 years old now. She spent half her life so far with this sickness, challenging everything we understand and know.
This is Maggie now. The campaign picture was taken in 1997. She was 19 then.
The sickness
Just after her 21st birthday in 1999, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia and hospitalized initially for a few weeks for observation and treatment. The few weeks became 7 years, including time spent it the closed mental health unit in Townsville followed by lengthy rehabilitation.
After seven years she was discharged and sent home with significant medication side effects, including posturing and pacing thought the house 90% of her waking time. She was grinding her teeth constantly, even during sleep.
Maggie could not be left on her own. With the help of a local mental health service provider she was granted a care package, which in time began to pay off in getting her involved in various activities, exercise and social interaction.
The beginning of recovery
In the next couple of years, the side effects gradually subsided, she finally stopped grinding her teeth and the pacing and posturing gradually diminished. She became more and more interested in doing something more meaningful. With the help of the support service she was able to enroll at Townsville TAFE Culinary School. The condition was that a carer had to be present while in class. By 2012 she completed Cert II in hospitality, and we were informed by TAFE in Townsville that Maggie could not continue into Cert III, because it was too risky for TAFE to accept the responsibility.
During 2012 I was invited to a Mental Health conference in Melbourne, where I met representatives from Chisholm TAFE, who reassured me that they would accept Maggie as a student, and she could complete her course without an apprenticeship. They have also indicated that they have a very active network and will assist Maggie to secure an apprenticeship.
So, in late 2013 we have sold our house in Townsville and moved to Melbourne. We purchased a two-bedroom unit in Narre Warren, Maggie enrolled at the Chisholm TAFE and completed not only Cert III, but Cert IV both in Commercial Cooking and Patisserie. We have made numerous applications for apprenticeships and jobs, she managed to secure a job in one of the community service outlets, with a promise of training in food preparation. After working two years washing dishes for $ 11.08 per hour, we realized that the promised training was never forthcoming.
Maggie grew in self confidence during this time, even more determined that she wanted to work in the hospitality industry and particularly she wanted to be a proficient cook. We launched in to apply for every job advertised on various sites with not only not results, but not even a single reply. A disability services agency told us we should just be happy that she had a job and that “people like her” in their experience would never progress further. Really??
Next Steps
We learned that we made a tidy profit on the unit, that would enable us to by a unit in regional Victoria and invest the profit in buying a small restaurant or cafe where Maggie could work and learn. We found a place in Sale Victoria, a small classy restaurant at a price we can afford, with plenty of cash flow to cover any possible challenging times. The Due Diligence report indicated the business was viable, though it was not making startling profits.
So, we made the move to Sale, purchased the business and a nice unit, for less than half the Melbourne market. We were on our way to achieve the objective to give Maggie a meaningful vocation and life. We started off in the “low” season, but still made enough to cover all expenses and have a bit left over.
The Crasshhh
Eight weeks into the project, I suffered what was thought to be a heart attack and was flown to the hospital in Melbourne. Recovery was slow, with other health complications and by Christmas 2018 it has taken a toll on the business.
Then came the fires in January and February 2019, coupled with the long running drought; buy this time, the “low” season turnover was halved from the normal “low” season and continued declining. I have put all remaining funds I had left into paying creditors and taxes.
The Consequences
In late May 2019 we borrowed money for cash flow from a short-term lender, in hope that business will recover after the nightmare summer. We had some success in June and July, but not enough to make a long-term difference.
In September 2019 I no choice but to close the business down, as we did not even make enough to pay wages. The administrators done their job with the company closure, but we are left with a commercial debt of $ 53 K, which I am personally liable.
What I have done to get out of this mess
For the last five months we have tried to sell the unit, 4 inspections in 5 months. We learned regional markets a good to buy into, but near impossible to sell. 470 properties on the market in Sale, with around 15 sales per month! Impossible.
Effectively this commercial lender can put me into bankruptcy, cease the property and put us out on the street, followed by some months of “fire sale”, hefty administration cost, leaving us with no funds to rent or move out of the region.
Nice mess, all with the best intentions, calculated risk and unforeseen circumstances in-between. I am too old to borrow money, though have a small part time job from home it is not enough to appease the lender.
How will Maggie benefit?
My greatest concern is that Maggie may have to face homelessness because of the actions I have taken to try to give her a life away from the normal “mental illness” environment. Not because mental illness environment (meaning care, social and opportunities isolation) is bad, but because we tried to make a difference and show that recovery is possible. Yes, it is, but at what price?
Maggie spent half of her life with this sickness and subsequent partial recovery, she has lost most of the things young people take for granted, including the full opportunity to be gainfully employed, family, children. The recovery is partial because she will have to remain on medication for the long term, limiting her ability to commute and negotiate life’s twists and turns on her own.
This modest unit in Sale was to be her inheritance. If we lose it, she is left with nothing.
How soon will we need the funds?
This creditor now is putting an immense pressure on, and it is urgent. In their correspondence 2 weeks ago, they have indicated that they will take the “next steps”.
Conclusion
I want to thank everyone, including family and friends taking the time to read this lengthy explanation as to what has happened to us. I don’t care about myself; I can live anywhere. Maggie will always be on medication and has regular monthly medical attendance to check on her condition. This impacts one her ability to sustain a job in the long term, while I want to be positive, will continue to be impacted by her condition.
I know we are all tired of recent troubles, bush fires, drought and the current national emergency. I like to ask anyone who reads this to be compassionate and circulate this plea for donations in your networks. Again, thank you in advance for any assistance and God bless you all!
Organizer
Elizabeth Siebel
Organizer