Confronting addiction head on

Blenheim’s ASB Theatre will play host to celebrity speakers and local personalities who will share their stories of addiction recovery in a bid to financially support the vital addiction treatment work done just down the road.

The St Marks’ Foundation’s ‘Night on the Booze’ in July will see moderator Jeremy Corbett speak with Pam Corkery and Paddy Gower about their personal stories of managing addiction and discuss their paths to recovery, alongside a screening and discussion of the short film, ‘Life after Meth’ featuring locals Danyon Fairbrother and Nicole Eaton-Boese-Marfell.

St Marks Foundation’s Philippa Burns says the evening aims to open conversations between families, friend groups and communities while making the service provided by St Marks’ Blenheim-based addiction service ever better.

“As a 60-something parent and grandparent, with like-minded people around the same vintage at our board table, we felt there’s a complacency about drugs and alcohol in the community.

“Speaking with staff from the Boys’ and Girls’ Colleges ahead of setting this event up, they said a real issue is peer pressure around drinking and drugs, so we’ve made student tickets $10 but our messages are relevant for all ages.

“The last thing we want is an hour-and-a-half lecture – we’ll have celebrities open about their struggles alongside the hilarious Jeremy Corbett for an entertaining evening that has some really good takeaway messages.”

Corkery, Corbett and Fairbrother are all looking forward to the opportunity to speak on such an important topic to Marlburians.

“Philippa is a dear friend and the importance of addicts telling their story is useful for those who want to stop using or who are in denial - only an addict can understand another addict”, said Pam.

“I’m told that my manner seems like it, but I don’t have light-hearted conversations about substance abuse. “Kiwis who are addicted to alcohol and/or other drugs always think they are funny and cool while using, like I did as protection from acknowledging their disorder.”

“For starters I love Blenheim, as my folks retired here and our whole extended family has made many memories here”, says Jeremy. “I jumped at the chance to chat with Pam and Paddy as I felt they would bring their unique entertaining energy to an issue that’s quite hard to discuss and harder to address - I’m predicting laughs and some real insight.”

“St Marks has been a vital part of Cole and my journey - we wouldn’t have met and been here without them”, adds Danyon. “The night will be very different for Cole and I to step into a space like this, but it’s what’s needed to merge together and show addiction can impact people no matter where they are in life.”

Services provided by the Blenheim-based addiction treatment facility is supported by fundraising work the St Marks Foundation does to cover non-clinical costs.

“Clinical services are paid for by government, but we fundraise to cover capital costs. That includes the new accommodation facilities we opened in 2023, down to replacing lightbulbs”, says Philippa. “That’s why we are doing something different this year”

“St Marks serves people from the whole of the South Island and while the Marlborough community is incredibly generous, we’re hoping this event  will attract people from further afield too”.

The Foundation is grateful to Cuddon, Marlborough PHO, Rangitane, and Maurice Capstick Health Trust for sponsoring the use of the ASB Theatre.