The presentation of a certificate of appreciation to them by the regional police authorities was very fitting.

I became involved with Street Reach quite by accident. Years of ill-health had worsened and by 2007 I was angry with fate I suppose, and spiralling out of control.

A family friend, Mrs Enid Muir (now deceased), suggested to Max that he have a talk to me. Some young chaps in a car in Isabella Street suggested the same thing.

It was wintertime and Max's wife Marion was not very well. We decided that Marion for the time being would stay at home to do the book work and other tasks for Street Reach, while I went out on Friday and Saturday nights in the Street Reach bus with Max.

Frankly, I had the time of my life! Max proved very street wise and combined a basic common sense with many hilarious memories of life in Sydney and elsewhere.

At times I was convulsed with laughter. Only rarely did that earlier negative outlook return.

The police were very supportive and I met a lot of new faces, both young and old.

Taking various teenagers safely back to their homes was of course the main aim. We related very well to most of them, but for privacy's sake I cannot write too much. Certainly no names, physical descriptions or occupations.

There was one night when a boy phoned the Street Reach bus for help in getting himself and his sister home. After a party, the girl had collapsed as an unconscious lump beside the road and did a similar thing when we reached her family home.

The father came out while Max and the boy dropped her inside the house and the poor man just looked at me, sighed and shrugged, as if to say: "What am I to do?"

Another time a crying woman was clearly intent on drastic action. She was onsite and ready to do it.

Max contacted some police who were up from Taree on patrol and the lady was saved.

There were many, many incidents, some happy, some sad.

It was clear to me quite quickly that Max and Marion and their various assistants before myself had won the trust (and one might almost say the love) of so many people, who had needed them at crunch time.

Just knowing that Street Reach was here in town, and ready to help, was a grand reassurance.

My own time with Wingham Street Reach has recently ended, much to my sorrow, but problems in walking and breathing made a continuation unrealistic.

To Max and Marion, to the police, to the crowds of young people, to those a fair bit older and in general to the townspeople of Wingham, I say thank you so much.

John Van Kampen

Wingham