NOTED youth outreach worker and community activist Les Twentyman was the special guest at the recent meeting of the Ocean Grove Barwon Heads Lions Club.<\/p>\n
Mr Twentyman, 73, has dedicated his life to helping young Australians find a positive future is one of Australia\u2019s best-known youth workers and social justice advocates.<\/p>\n
Ocean Grove Barwon Heads Lions Club member Sue Harling said Mr Twentyman had a connection with her branch of the service organisation.<\/p>\n
\u201cLes was raised in Braybrook and worked for the Sunshine Council as a youth worker. He actually worked with one of our members, Norm Buckley, who at the time was the Sunshine Council mayor.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur members were mesmerised by Les\u2019 many stories, adventures and anecdotes.<\/p>\n
\u201cLes is a wealth of knowledge on the plight of homeless people, drug addiction, prison reform and social welfare and has worked tirelessly to speak out and assist in any way that he can.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has been consulted on emerging issues such as gang violence, weapons carriage, cyber bullying and truancy in our education system.<\/p>\n
\u201cLes is often called to volatile regional areas of Australia in a bid to bring about harmony and cooperation where gangs and youth violence is a problem. He has also accompanied the Governor General, state government ministers and leaders of industry to the \u2018dark streets\u2019 of Australia that they never knew existed.\u201d<\/p>\n