Staying on track

By Kelly Yates
A BERWICK chaplain is launching Motov8, a new program for schools, sporting clubs and youth groups which aims to motivate young people to stay on track.
Reverend John McMahon knows all too well about the importance of staying on track, after he was kicked out of two schools during his secondary schooling years.
“I never liked school much but then again I never gave it a red-hot go either,” he said.
At 19, he made the life-changing decision to steer away from the gang violence and the reckless behaviour he was involved with to become a youth minister.
“I knew what was right but often just rebelled for the sake of it,” he said.
Rev McMahon, or Mr Mac as he’s known by most students, says he understands teenagers and the pressures they face every day after being a chaplain at Kambrya College in Berwick for the last three years.
The 37-year-old has been a youth minister for more than 16 years and is now branching out to start Motov8, which is set to be launched next year for students in Years 7 to 12.
The program will involve strategic visual presentations in the form of interactive seminars during school hours, assemblies, camps, workshops, lectures and mentoring, with Rev McMahon using his passion for motorcycles and experience in the racing scene to engage the participants.
He said Motov8 will inspire, inform and empower young people to understand the world they live in, in order to make smarter choices.
“We take the Motov8 race bike along with us and use full multi media in our presentations,” he said.
“I share stories, analogies and principles that I’ve learned through life in order to help young people.”
According to Rev McMahon, the seminars will engage high achievers right through to those who are more disengaged in the school community.
Motov8 will cover some of the main issues young people face including bullying, emotional intelligence, family break down, self esteem, rejection and peer pressure.
“I know these are serious issues for young people as I see it in the school yard every day,” he said.
“My desire is to leave people better than when I found them.”
The father of three said that a lot of motivational speakers use gimmicks and hype to pump kids up and leave them not knowing what they’re excited about.
“I give them real strategies on how to stay on track in life,” he said.
As of next year, Rev McMahon will take on the role of part time chaplain at Kambrya College to allow him to focus on Motov8. For details, visit www.motov8.com.au or call 0417 646 015.