Hi Markjt
Well my employment life was mainly law enforcement but not policing.
So for years in the RAAF, Prison officer and investigations I landed a bylaws job close to home at a Shire. Great!
Two years later I hit a major hurdle, I was told to favour a local politician in his habitual routine of parking his large white government vehicle in a one hour zone or even a fisabled parking space. In other words "turn a blind eye".
The fact that my background of which I was proud meant I never discriminated and never bowed to corruption, hurt a lot.
I made a stand. I was to continue issuing fines regardless. Then as I argued with my boss pains in the chest came. The initial diagnosis was heart attack. I was ordeted off work. Three months later I was rediagnosed with panic attack.
I fought that Shire every step of the way for 10 months but still lost my job aussie kangaroo court style. But I cared not. The principle was more important.
It defined my moral boundaries, taught me how to stand tall and how to say "NO".
It also pit me on the path with mental illness issue in that it accelerated my symptoms of depression and bipolar2 that were lying in waiting.
Fighting a large organisation for a few dollars in fines...my biggest non mental health achievement.
Ps that politician stopped parking in the area...and the disabled zone was left for those it was meant for.
Tony WK
