Lachie Atyeo is the Program Manager of the Foundation’s Personal Helpers and Mentors (PHaM) City Program, which offers one-on-one support for people living with a mental illness. PHaM assists people in recognising, building and enhancing their own life skills. Renowned for his superior cooking skills, relaxed and friendly manner, Lachie recently opened up to us by answering some questions:
Where are you from Lachie, do you have any siblings, parents etc?
Born and raised in Canberra, I have one younger brother and two older sisters.
I also have a beautiful wife (pip) and baby girl! (Eva)
What are your interests?
I love Martial arts! In particular Wing Chun Kung fu which I train in regularly. I am hopefully going to Hong Kong early 2010 to further my training with grand master Wan Kam Leung. I also play in a rock band called “almost alive”
I love to read lots of books and play video games when I have time to use my Xbox.
Pip and I also are involved in running and co-coordinating primary aged adventure camps.
Do you have a role model and who are they? What makes them so
I guess I don’t really have any role models as such. I have always been a fan of code of conduct or ideals to live by rather than identifying any one particular role model/s for myself. When I see someone who has done something impactful or amazing with their life I always feel inspired by that. Especially when the work that they do allows another to go on and change the world for the better!
Why and how did you come about working at the Mental Health Foundation?
I kind of fell into mental health, I had previously been interested in working with Alcohol and Drug affected young people. However I knew Katie Pratt who was working at the Rainbow, through our relationship I learned about the Foundation and Rainbow. I then applied for a position.
What kind of parent do you hope to be?
A relaxed parent with lots of sleep! Seriously I hope to be an easy going and fun parent, family is very important to me and so I hope to be able to spend a lot of time my baby girl as she grows up. I’m really looking forward to when I can have a two way conversation with Eva in English, rather than gibberish.
Any memorable quotes or sayings you like?
“Golf is a good walk spoiled.” Mark Twain
“Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination.” - Oscar Wilde