ON January 16, 2014, the normally peaceful, idyllic town of Canungra was rocked by a siege.
Police closed roads into and out of the town for ten hours when a man said he had a bomb in his car, which was parked at D J Smith Park, across the road from the Canungra Hotel.
Ten years later, the man at the centre of the siege, Mal Jobson, has turned his life around and is advocating for people with mental illness to seek help.
Mal says the events of 2014 were triggered by a number of stressors as well as long term mental illness that was largely undiagnosed and untreated.
He admits he did not have any weapons in the car that day.
“I had gas cylinders for my camping stove but nothing to make a bomb or hurt anyone,” he said.
“It was all a fragment of my imagination – a random act.”
Monique Morcus, who lived and worked across the road from D J Smith Park, said it was a terrifying event.
“We could see the car from our house,” she remembered.
“The police came and saw us and said if you want to go, go now, but if you want to stay you need to stay put.”
Monique and her wife Karen MacAndrew decided to take their two dogs and went to stay with family on the Gold Coast.
“To be very honest I’m just very glad that he didn’t hurt himself or anyone else that day.”
Mal says many people who reach breaking point are not so fortunate, which is why he is speaking out now.
While he doesn’t have a good memory of events on that day and initially afterwards, he understands what led up to it.
“I had been in and out of hospitals for 20 years prior to that event, not diagnosed and not in the system,” he recalls.
“After the court appearance following the siege, I was put into hospital for psychiatric evaluation under the Mental Health Act.”
Mal stayed in hospital for five months where he finally received a diagnosis, medication and psychiatric help.
In the following months he found stable accommodation, continued with medication and psychiatric care, found work, fell in love and got married.
“After three years of being on the forensic order I was that well and active in the community that I was able to come off the order.”
Sadly, the marriage broke down, but Mal has managed to stay well.
He is also volunteering with organisations focussed on mental health, such as Roses in the Ocean.
“I could have walked away from mental health but I reckon I would have slid and gotten unwell again.”
“So, I’m an advocate for positive mental health medications.”
“If you’re diabetic you take insulin, if you’re mentally ill you take your medication.”
He also practices meditation and gratitude as well as continuing to see mental health professionals on a regular basis.
Music has always been a big part of Mal’s life and in the last few years he established his own business as a DJ and has begun to do educational talks about mental health.
He advised anyone who is struggling to get help.
“Find someone who is not in your immediate circle and follow through. If you’re not feeling right, get help.”
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If this article has raised concerns
If this article has raised concerns, please contact one of these organisations:
Lifeline 24/7 crisis support – phone 13 11 14
Beyond Blue – beyondblue.org.au or phone 1300 224 636
Australian mental health and wellbeing support organisation, providing support programs related to depression, suicide, anxiety disorders and other related mental illnesses.
Roses in the Ocean – rosesintheocean.com.au
Australia’s national lived experience of suicide organisation.
