This story is about a volunteer who was part of the U-turn team.

Jim and I had been friends for many years and we had worked on many community projects. As we got older our contact with each other became less as time went on except for his annual Christmas gatherings. It was at one of these Christmas gatherings that Jim informed me that he was doing nothing and he was going to have a rest from the workforce. It was not long before I was telling him about our U-turn programme and what fun it was working with young people. Soon arrangements were made with Jim to start as he had an excellent background in metalwork and would be a great asset in our team.

Jim seemed happy about being at U-turn however he was uncomfortable with the W.A.T.C.H. sessions. Each week we discussed a value and drew out conversations from the students and slowly Jim became involved and told his own stories. The students really liked Jim as he would tell them about his time as an aircraft engineer and his wish to go back into this field locally. He gave encouragement to the students and we had many lunch time conversations about engines, the farm, family and life in general. Once Jim shared that he wished he had opportunities like this with his own son rather than always being at work.

Then one day when we were talking about "heart" Jim told us about the anger that was inside him and how coming to U-turn was changing him from inside. We were all taken aback by this statement and sat in silence for a time. Something happened that day and Jim became a different person to us all. Then one day he arrived and told us that he was offered a job with a local helicopter company. We were overjoyed about this new job and sad that he was about to leave. Jim left us shortly afterwards still keeping in touch with me and always asking after "his boys".

He had become spiritually awakened over this short period of time with us and was attending meditation classes and enjoying the whole experience. Jim passed away suddenly months later and it was a shock for everyone. Many months later the phone rang and it was an enquiry about our U-turn programme and its suitability for young people. As it turned out Jim's neighbour was interested in a youth programme and unbeknown to me Jim had shared his U-turn experience with his neighbour each week on his veranda. I heard how Jim thought he was wasting his time initially and then slowly each week he began to rave about the results. His greatest disappointment was when he had to leave because of his new job.

I knew Jim for many years as a friend and as an individual he was a great man. Our boys at U-turn greatly missed him for his wisdom, his commitment and example of watching our Words, Actions, Thoughts, Character, Heart and that 100% Trust.

All names in this story have been changed to protect the participants and comply with the Privacy Act.