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Beating the odds: Nicaraguan doctor named Citizen of the Year

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Jordyn Grubisic
Jordyn Grubisic
Jordyn Grubisic is a senior journalist for the North Central Review primarily covering politics at all levels and sport with a particular interest in basketball. Since 2019 she has worked for several publications across Victoria including most recently at the Alexandra Standard and Yea Chronicle. She is always keen to hear from local community members about issues they face and has an interest in crime and court reporting.

The Mitchell Shire Citizen of the Year was awarded to Seymour’s Sergio Prado-Arnuero for his dedication as a drug and alcohol counsellor and prevention work with youths.

Born in Nicaragua in central America, Dr Prado-Arnuero worked in his home country creating and directing a preventative medical program and providing medication to the ill.

He was active in fighting the Somaza dictatorship regime, which eventually forced Dr Prado-Arnuero and his family into exile.

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Unable to speak English, Dr Prado-Arnuero arrived in Villawood, New South Wales, in 1990 as a political refugee.

Despite being told the contrary, his medical qualifications were not recognised in Australia leading him to complete a Diploma of Counselling, and in 2002 he was employed by Mitchell Community Health Services as a drug and alcohol counsellor.

Dismayed by the number of clients relapsing after a hospital detox, Dr Prado-Arnuero became convinced prevention was better than cure and decided to target the youth population.

“The reality is that as I was working as a drug and alcohol counsellor, I was feeling that we were stealing the money of the taxpayer,” Dr Prado-Arnuero said.

“My CEO asked me why I felt that way and it is because I feel that it doesn’t [work] what we do with detoxification, rehabilitation, counselling or whatever. The first thing they do is go to the pub or start using again.

“I believe there has to be something different. I believe that we need early intervention. It is not a question of curing people who are addicted, it is a question of preventing them from getting addiction.”

In 2002, Dr Prado-Arnuero started a boxing gym, believing most substance abuse problems occur in financially-disadvantaged homes. He believes people who survive disadvantaged environments are survivors and survivors are fighters.

“Most of the time the addicted person is coming from a social status that is very poor with a lot of financial problems. Sometimes a dysfunctional family,” he said.

Approaching Seymour police, Dr Prado-Arnuero found they had a diversion program for young offenders, resulting in 18 young men completing six sessions of training with him to avoid going to jail.

All participants completed the course, finding it so beneficial they wanted to continue and by the end of 2003, 150 young men had been through the program.

When Mitchell Community Health Services was unable to continuing funding the project, a money jar was set up with participants paying whatever they could afford – after three months the gym had savings in the bank.

After the original gym was demolished in 2005, Dr Prado-Arnuero continued his program at Seymour’s Chittick Park and in the backyard of his home, before former Member for McEwen Fran Bailey provided two portables from Puckapunyal to house the gym in 2007.

Mayor Louise Bannister with Citizen of the Year Sergio Prado-Arnuero.

Dr Prado-Arnuero did not believe he deserved his award.

“Thank you so much Australia and thank you very much to the people who organised this event,” he said.

“I feel really honoured to receive this certificate. I am not sure if I deserve it.”

After an operation to treat a ruptured aorta – and technically dying twice – Dr Prado-Arnuero said he was more emotional than ever.

“I feel emotional. Very emotional … my wife was telling me my family from Nicaragua is trying to communicate and I said don’t put them on the telephone because even listening to the voice would make me cry,” he said.

“I am still emotional. I don’t think I deserve this but thank you to everyone.”

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1 COMMENT

  1. Ya al final de leer el articulo lo identifique era un tipo fortachon tenia pinta de boxeador, de hablar rapido. Muchas gracias por hacerme participe ded este nombramiento. Los Nicas triunfamos donde quiera que vayamos. Que Dios nos proteja siempre donde estemos. Bendiciones.

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