The Big Issue

Michael sells The Big Issue in Civic, Canberra.

While most of the ambassadors in Canberra hang out in Yarralumla, there’s one you just can’t miss in downtown Civic. In his bright vendor uniform and with his penchant for helping the public, Michael is the best ambassador The Big Issue could ask for.
“My customers have helped me out through tips and advice, and I also help the public,” says the Canberra-born 24 year old. “Some are in a worse situation than me. I help hungry people or people in wheelchairs and the elderly. And I feel good when I help someone who needs directions.”

Of course, ambassadors are political beings, and Michael is political to his core. “I’ve been published 12 times in The Big Issue,” he says proudly. “I spoke up against Howard, and stuck up for the gays and lesbians. I’m not gay myself, but I wrote my letter (‘Streetsheet’, Ed#291) because I felt ashamed that they were being treated differently.

“I’m happy about Howard getting the boot. Early last year I spoke up against the American Government and George Bush – I called him the biggest terrorist on the planet – and a lot of people here in Canberra agreed with me.”

While Michael is willing to take on the biggest of issues, he is not free from his own, including epilepsy. “I’m on medication now, which helps control it,” he says. “I want to thank my Dad for digging me out of a deep hole – emotional and other stuff in my past before The Big Issue that I don’t want to go into. I’m a much better person than I was years ago; better to get along with. I’m still trying to get back to a normal life, not fully depending on others. I think The Big Issue has given me more confidence, and my Dad has too.

“I’m not a drug user and I’m not a drinker, but my epilepsy keeps me out of literally hundreds of jobs because it’s either too dangerous or too stressful. I’d love to become a chef, but because of my epilepsy no restaurant could employ me. It’s too dangerous. I worked in a cafe in Woden, but I had a seizure on the second day.

“I’ve got friends I socialise with, I performed with a choir in Canberra and even conducted a few songs, and I’m a cricket fan and play snooker. I’m also interested in art – ceramics – and I want to start some painting this year, then try to get into art school next year as a mature-age student. My dad’s a good artist, a darn good sculptor.”

As for the magazine itself, Michael puts it as diplomatically as he can: “There’s a lot of people think it’s a good magazine, but I’m a lazy reader… I like writing for it and getting published! I’ve gained quite a few regular customers over the last year and three-quarters, and I’m happy – I’m not going to stuff up, and I’ll continue trying to help people out in the street.”

Photograph by Pam McGrath