It was a fitting birthday celebration for a woman who loved the colour pink and poetry, and wanted to “change the world”.
Noelle Dickson launched Sarah’s Space – a support service for young people battling addictions – on what would have been her daughter Sarah Cafferkey’s 26th birthday.
Dozens of people turned out to the Bacchus Marsh senior citizens’ hall on Monday, June 20, to unveil the space and remember Sarah, who struggled with an ice addiction before she was murdered in 2012.
Ms Dickson said the new space had been three-and-a-half years in the making and would be a place for young people with drug and alcohol addictions to find support and information.
Currently, only appointment-run counselling services are being offered at Sarah’s Space, but Ms Dickson hopes the service will grow in future.
“We communicated a lot together [with Sarah] so in that respect it was good,” Ms Dickson told Star Weekly.
“But I know there are a lot of children out there who can’t speak with their parents and don’t seek help.
“That’s why I wanted this – to get them talking and know they’ve got somewhere to go for help if they can’t relate to their family and friends.”
Speaking at the launch, Ms Dickson described her daughter as someone who would “capture your heart with joy and humour”.
Sarah had an “abundance of energy”, Ms Dickson said, but she struggled with asthma, which took a toll on her physical and mental health.
“She began drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana, which she thought helped ease the stress levels that triggered her asthma attacks, and this began her dependency on drugs,” Ms Dickson said.
And in early 2012, Sarah was introduced to the drug ice.
At first, she felt good, Ms Dickson said, but it wasn’t long before the drug took over.
Shortly after, Sarah checked into rehab.
“She had so much zest for life, and she was going to change the world and help her friends and others who were still using ice to get off it,” Ms Dickson said.
She hopes now Sarah’s Space will be a place for young people to seek help without feeling judged.
“To my beautiful daughter, Sarah, this is in honour of you. Happy 26th birthday.”
For more information, call 8746 1000.
