Meth march makes a point

A group of young Noongar leaders hope to turn the March Against Meth into an annual event after the Albany community took a strong united stand against the drug last Friday.

More than 50 people marched up York Street on Friday for the community rally organised by the Great Southern Noongar Emerging Leaders group.

The march continued to the Town Square and guest speakers called on the crowd to raise awareness of the harm caused by methamphetamine.

A mix of guest speakers — including health professionals, representatives from support services and police — spoke passionately on the issue and a minute’s silence was observed.

Dr Matt Coleman said he had seen first-hand the impact the drug was having on families and those it had affected directly.

“This is a community prob-lem, not just a health problem, those affected by the drug and police,” he said. “The commu-nity needs to start opening their hearts as the only way to move forward addressing the meth problem.”

Great Southern police Inspector Mark Twamley said police needed the community’s help to address the issue and report crime and target the dealers and suppliers of methamphetamine.

Event MC and Great Southern Noongar Emerging Leaders group member Damien Yarran said he hoped the event would grow to become an annual stand against methamphetamine.