one therapy group related to sexual abuse and believed its "positive" dynamics encouraged participants to voice their hurts, trust others and talk openly about their trauma.
They want to offer more recovery groups, particularly for men.
The Roldans said sponsors had helped finance the muchneeded auditorium and its audiovideo equipment.
People likely to benefit from therapy sessions include those healing after divorce, sharing grief or recovering from sexual abuse or lifeaffecting problems, they said.
GROUP therapy for Frankston people striving to adjust to deep hurts and lifedamaging problems is expanding.
LifeGate, a non-profit
counselling service, has established a $50,000 100
Gate to a new Life
seat venue for people with similar problems to meet as groups and aid the healing process.
The venue is part of LifeGate's headquarters at 1A Olsen St, Frankston.
For the past 13 years, pastors Angel and Julie Roldan
have counselled there and trained people in life skills or helped them restore their lives.
The Roldans help people recovering from drugs, alcohol, sexual and emotional abuse, marriage breakdown and other problems.
LifeGate has been running
FRANKSTON/HASTINGS LEADER May 16, 2005
Herald Sun, Thursday, June 1, 2006
Helping hands: Angel and Julie Roldan.
Picture: TREVOR PINDEF
Angels guard others:
ANGEL by name, Angel by nature.
Since arriving from Spain 23 years ago Angel Roldan and his German-born wife, Julie, have helped others.
In 1992 the former banker devoted himself to Life-Gate, a nonprofit organisation helping troubled people in Frankston.
Ms Roldan gave up her career as a sculptor and painter to help run the Christian program.
Mr Roldan said. "They would send us letters. We're still corresponding . today."
Their tireless dedication has seen Mr and Ms Roldan nominated for a Pride of Australia Fair Go award, which recognises the contribution of former migrants to their new home.
.
Life-Gate (www.lifegate.org) is based in Frankston. It deals with troubled youth, families, addiction, abuse, marriage problems and people in crisis. The organisation relies on donations and apart from living expenses, Mr and Ms Roldan are unpaid.
They are both on call 24 hours a day. "Honestly, we came to this country and somehow things went so well”, Ms Roldan says. "It's like giving something back
to the community."
- Cheryl Critchley
.
Now trained Christian pastors, they reach out to all sections of society.
Mr and Ms Roldan spent 13 years visiting prisons, where Mr Roldan would play his guitar and sing.
"We would bring musical entertainment and also talk to them about issues like faith and forgiveness and dignity,"
“Business Achiever Awards 2006”
The on-going service has brought the recognition of the community and the media . Life-Gate has been nominated this year by the Leader in the area of Community Services.
LEGALISING marijuana would increase the use of harder drugs and crime rates,
according to the leader of a Frankston based youth organisation.
Ps. Angel Roldan, of Life Gate, has urged people to pressure local politicians to
Ignore the recommendations of the Premier's Drug Advisory Committee to legalise
marijuana.
Ps. Roldan said Life Gate, based in Olsen St, was a charitable organIsation that
depended on donations from several sources including the Assemblies of God,
Christian Revival Crusade, and Baptist and Anglican churches.
It was associated with Teen Challenge Victoria which ran a drug rehabilitation centre at Kyabram.
Ps. Roldan said up to 40 drug dependent people from Frankston and Mornington Peninsula were
referred to Rehab centres each year.
Although drugs would disappear from a person's body in two weeks, it took six months' rehabilitation to make sure they would not return to their habit.
The six-month rehablilitation program is paid through the Social Security scheme. To be eligible for the payments drug dependent people must have a doctor's certificate saying they needed rehabilitation.
"Most of them are on unemployment benefits anyway," Ps. Roldan said. "They are just transferred across to the health benefit. 'We go into the street and offer young people hot dogs and warm drinks. We have a drop in centre and a training school for people who want to learn more about life-controlling problems."
Life Gate has been operating for four years, although Ps. Roldan and his wife, Julie, have been working In the same support field for about 10 years.
"When people come here for counselling they are usually already in very, very deep trouble.
.
The Frankston Independent
May 1995
New Coffee Shop
LIFE-GATE has extended its community services by opening a drop in centre and coffee shop in central Frankston.
Life Gate directors Ps. Angel and Ps. Julie Roldan have opened Life Gate Connection at 1 a Olsen St above Godfrey's Vacuum Cleaners.
The centre has table tennis and a pool table.
Opening Friday nights, the centre. will offer free coffee, soft drinks and snacks.
Pastor Roldan said the idea was to offer young people a venue where they felt comfort-
able and get help if wanted
This is an extention of the work Life Gate workers are doing at the so-called Hut at the end of Wells St, close to the beach where we offer hot dogs and drinks,” he said.
“Anybody is welcome to come during the day to the coffee shop for free coffee and a chat.”
TRY OUT FOR DRUG PROGRAM
Life-Gate, a drug &
alcohol counselling
centre - being affiliated
toTeen Challenge, was
introduced to Frankston
last week
" If we steer people out
of crime and put them
on the road of recovery
then we are saving the
state $80,000 the cost
of housing a prisoner
each year,” he said.
"Every taxpayer pays
about $2500 a year for drug, alcohol and nicotine related costs and about 80 per cent of jailings are drug related.”
"We are a non profit, charitable organisation here to help the whole community," Ps. Roldan said.
Life Gate is situation at 1A Olsen St., Frankston.
Ps. Roldan said that his centre's aim was not only to help people in need but to save the community extra costs.
Life Gate executive director, Ps. Angel Roldan said he believed the Peninsula faces "critical problems" with growing crime, alcohol abuse, violence, sexual abuse and other serious problems.
Ps. Roldan said Life Gate was established to meet the needs of people in crisis.
In some instances people are being referred to various rehabilitation centres incl,. Kyabram, Teen Challenge.
*LIFE Gate leader Ps. Angel Roldan and his wife, Ps. Julie helping people with drug and alcohol related problems.
Angel carries drug fight to Peninsula - The Independent Oct 1992
Life-Gate was formed on the Peninsula in 1982. Ps. Roldan said he could see
the growing problems in this area.
"Drugs and alcohol are just the symptoms of a life- controlling problem, like any other addiction. We need to deal with the root problems in order to bring lasting healing to the person.
"Our ultimate aim is to prevent people from getting into drugs in the first place and if they already are, then we try to get them out of the habit.
"Drugs and alcohol problems are costing Australia $14 billion a year that is $2500 for every family in the country
every family in the country.
"Our job, like many other centres like us is to help reduce that figure for the benefit of the country and the people who live in it," he said.
People can get in contact with Life Gate by phoning
(03) 9770 0595
THE Peninsula is one of the highest drug and alcohol related problem areas in the state according to Life Gate executive director Ps. Angel Roldan.
Ps. Roldan said counsellors saw at least two or three people every day from the Peninsula with drug or alcohol problems.
He said that Life Gate's main purpose was to help people overcome life-controlling problems incl. marital and relationship problems, as well as any other substance abuse or crisis.
The Standard, Nov 1992
FRANKSTON mayor Cr Denis Shaw (left) with drug program workers Angel and Julie Roldan.
