By Charlene Gatt
FOR most, Christmas is a time for giving and sharing with families.
But youth worker Les Twentyman knows the silly season isn’t as fun for some.
One story that stands out in his mind took place more than 30 years ago when he was rostered on at a girl’s hostel.
It was here he met Liz.
Liz had no family to go to for Christmas because they had all died from drug overdoses. At 13 she started prostitution to fund her life on the streets.
Feeling sorry for her, Mr Twentyman invited Liz to his mother’s house for their annual family lunch.
“After lunch we all went into the backyard for our traditional game of cricket and Liz joined in,” Mr Twentyman remembered.
“It was amazing to see this girl transform from a tough street kid who would bash you at a glance to laughing and enjoying being what she had never been – a happy child.”
Two years later, Mr Twentyman had to go to the morgue to identify Liz’s body. She had been killed by a notorious crime family.
Later on Mr Twentyman discovered that Liz had been buried in an unmarked grave near an airport, and with the help of Tobin Brothers Funerals and 3AW organised a proper headstone for her.
Last Friday Mr Twentyman ran his 29th annual Christmas party for homeless and disadvantaged young families at Maribyrnong’s Lazy Moes.
The 20th Man fund has also raised enough money to pay for next year’s school books to keep hundreds of kids in school.
“While so many are complaining about all the Christmas break-up parties they have to attend, just remember there will be thousands of kids around Melbourne who would just like to attend one,” Mr Twentyman said.
