A Tribute to Marc Whyte

7/8/1981 – 23/8/2019

Marc was a highly respected participant in MDNSW’s Working Wheels employment program some years ago. The program involved face to face training and weekly 6hr group online sessions covering a variety of themes from self-development, to understanding your supports needs, to interview skills. There was work to be done, and Marc did the work. It soon became apparent that Marc was a reflective guy, citing Stephen Hawking as one of his heroes, and sharing his remarkable knowledge of all things tech and computer related. Marc impressed the group with his wisdom, humour, maturity and drive to change his life for the better.

As part of the program, Marc enrolled in the Lifeline telephone counselling course and had been working as a telephone counsellor at the Macarthur Lifeline office over the past 4 years. Marc was determined to follow this new direction and was not put off when he found that his nearest Lifeline office was upstairs and totally inaccessible. “How ironic, I heard him say, but this is NOT going to stop me!” Marc’s new sense of confidence was prolific.

With some research Marc found that the Campbelltown office was accessible and started his work there as a volunteer counsellor twice a week. After solid service and impressing everyone with his deep ability to listen and empathise, Marc had recently moved from his role as a volunteer counsellor to doing some paid shifts with Lifeline. He loved his role there and credited MDNSW for supporting him to get out of his bedroom, make massive changes in his life and to head in a totally new direction.

Marc was a determined man with a fabulous sense of humour and an endless supply clever one-liners! He wanted to use his talents to make a difference to others and he certainly found a way to do that through his work at Lifeline.

Marc passed away in hospital and was farewelled by his family and friends at a service at Pinegrove on 4 September 2019. All our love, support and best wishes are with Marc’s Mum Chris, his family and friends.

By Carolyn Campbell-McLean