Women from Permanent Impressions in 2021
JADE LEWIS - Interviewed by Carmen Jenner
After receiving a second chance and turning her life around, Jade has dedicated herself to helping others overcome addiction. As the founder of Jade Lewis & Friends with her husband Tristan, Jade continues her quest in helping others in the community to take a stance against drug addiction, crime and violence. We recently caught up with Jade several years on from Permanent Impressions about her experience as an anti-drug advocate and how she found the experience of sitting for her portrait.
How did you find the process of having your portrait painted?
I felt so honoured and privileged that someone like me was asked to have my portrait painted. I was much younger at the time and I was still quite early into my ventures, so the experience was something that I held very dearly.
What did you think of your portrait when you saw it for the first time?
I thought it was beautiful and that Jana did me justice.
Being part of the Permanent Impressions collection along with other remarkable women must have been very special.
It was extremely empowering and it opened up a lot of doors for me. It gave me credibility and made my message stronger and to be heard in places I’m not normally heard in. I highly recommend it.
Tell us a bit about Jade Lewis & Friends.
It’s our vision to be part of building drug free communities in Australian. We achieve this through drug prevention presentations in high schools, parenting seminars and helping female prisoners find their second chance at life through mentoring programs. I have also authored two books, which are in schools across Australia.
What other outreach programs have you been working on?
I’ve been advocating in the prisons as well and this avenue has become so big. I have a colleague who I helped and now she is helping others to find success in life beyond prison. They’re not just survivors – these women have overcome their demons and they are using their stories to help others get past their experience.
You’ve received many endorsements, including one from Prince Charles. What was it like meeting him?
Unlike the Queen where there was lots of protocol, Prince Charles was extremely accessible and friendly and had all the time in the world for a chat. I felt so lucky to meet him.
Aside from rubbing shoulders with royalty, what else is new?
Well, we have a new website coming soon outlining our new projects and ventures as well as including many inspiring stories and videos. And I have been working with another not-for-profit, which we oversee called Community Eats. Every week we help to feed hundreds of people in our local community with food hampers, meals and DIY Meal Kits. This is a very successful program too.
No doubt the Community Eats service has become even more important over the past year.
There’s lots of poverty in our Western World and working with this service was a real eye-opener. We had been focusing on the emotional needs of those we support and their families - but this is geared up towards supporting the physical needs. As a community, we’re tougher than we realise but not everyone who needs this service is damaged, ordinary people need help too.
You have two books out already, Golden Haze: Jade’s Story and Under Your Influence. Any others in the pipeline?
Yes, I am currently writing my next one which outlines life beyond addiction and the work I am now doing in the community.
Going from an international athlete to then succumbing to drugs is quite a journey. What advice would you give to someone about turning their life around?
It’s never too late. Nothing is too hard that you can’t get a second chance. You don’t need to stay where you are and there’s a fight within all of us to turn it into something positive.
What was the turning point for you?
My dad. Knowing that I would eventually end up in prison, my dad gave me an ultimatum by withdrawing his support. I knew I would have to live with the consequences if I chose to continue living the way I was. I became really scared at the prospect and knew I had to take control of my life otherwise I would end up in places I didn’t want to be.
How would you say this compares to others in similar situations?
This was my rock bottom, but everyone has a different rock bottom. I just didn’t want to go any lower.
What message would give someone who has a dream?
Just do it. If you have that desire and passion then just do it. Everything is birthed out of passion and you can work out the other stuff later.
What else would you like to add?
In the not-for-profit space there are many more opportunities for women to be heard and recognised. Our voices are getting louder and stronger as more women come together supporting one another.