It is with great sadness that we share of the passing of Michael Appleton. He remained to the end an advocate for the rights of all people, and a peer supporter within mental health and cancer services.
Paula Hanlon, who was a close friend of Michael’s, was kind enough to create this written memorial to Michael and his life’s work.
“Michael was an adolescent when he entered the mental health system in the late 60’s. There were no specialist units at the time and young people had to share adult units, subjected to trial medications and other treatments with unknown impact on the young brain.
Michael had two clear goals in his life. The first was to make sure people entering the mental health system today would have a better experience than him. The second was to make six people smile and six people laugh every day. In his last days, I affirmed to him that he had achieved his goals and that we are very thankful for his time on this earth.
In 1992, Michael was invited to join a committee to oversee the closure of Gladesville Hospital. By the end of the committee’s work, Michael had brought in so many more people living with mental health issues that they outnumbered the clinicians and bureaucrats.
He founded the Ryde Consumer Network in November 1993 and was a founding member of the Northern Sydney District Consumer Network in February 1994. Michael was employed in both Sydney Area Health Services and with Northern Sydney for several years, but he aways maintained his voluntary service.
It is due to the wonderful systemic advocacy and examples of how consumers could be peer supporters and advocates that the employed positions many of us enjoy today came about. I am one of those who developed under Michael’s leadership at the Ryde Consumer Network, initially as a volunteer (1995-1997) and then as an employed peer worker in January 1998. When we came to review the achievements of the network, we estimated the membership was close so 150 people, many of whom went on the study or enter employment, often as peer workers themselves.
Michael was my best friend, travel buddy (we had some amazing holidays) great supporter and ideas man. He remained a peer supporter, advocate and volunteer right to the end. He was a vibrant character with a sense of humour that he shared every day, in particular as a member of the monthly No Suppression Group and Mad Pride events. We will miss him terribly and commit to continue his legacy into the future.”
Paul Hanlon
Michael will be farewelled on Friday 30 January.
Rest in peace Michael and thank you for committing so much of your life to improving the experience of mental health consumers.