Kindness in Dark Places

This is an inspiring book with seventy short , heart-warming true stories of acts of kindness by strangers with contributions by prominent Australians, including CEO of Enough is Enough, Ken B Marslew. Please read his story.

My 18-year-old son, Michael, was murdered during an armed holdup.
In the early years following Michael's murder, I began running programs in correctional centres across NSW. Remember I was a very angry man; I still am, although I use my anger in a positive way these days.

I was working with a group of serious offenders, about a dozen men. My subject was "personal responsibility."

During the presentation, one of the offenders said, as many do, "It wasn't my fault." I challenged him: "Whose fault was it?" As the excuses flowed I got aggro and said," Don't you understand what responsibility means? You crap on to everyone, including yourself. When are you going to grow a set, and accept the truth about your behaviour?"

At this point the inmate, a big man with a shaved head and many prison tattos, jumped to his feet and lunged at me.

To my surprise, two of the other inmates in the group also jumped up and restrained the original  inmate, saying, "Can't you see this bloke is trying to help you? Sit down, shut up and listen." He did.

This act surprised me, and was one of many things to happen to me in prison, which made me  see inmates in a different light.

Even in the darkest places, there is good in the supposed worst of us and, dare I say, there is some bad in the best of us.


Ken B Marlsew AM is a NSW Senior Australian of the Year 2010 State Finalist. He was foremost in establishing the Charter of Victim Rights in 1996.

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Peacemaker Project in Schools NSW

Cranbrook School , Sydney received an award in recognition of their support of the Peacemaker Project from Ken Marslew on Wednesday 25 November 2009 at a special school assembly. Cranbrook school is one of 20 schools across NSW, that were honoured as peacemakers for their active involvement in the Peacemaker Project for the last eight years. Ken congratulated the school on their dedication to building a harmonious school in their local community.

The Peacemaker Project is the schools program that has been taken to over 300 schools across NSW focusing on the issues of personal responsibility, overcoming adversity, facing fear, maintaining self control and building inner strength, resilience and developing leadership skills. The project is comprised of  life skills modules, covering everything from anger management and bullying , drink-driving and binge drinking to sexual violence and gender issues.

The modules are taught by dynamic presenters, many of who have experienced real-life tragedies in their own families through violence, drugs, alcohol or the death of a loved one. All their stories are real.

“Their passion comes from experience and the students respond to that. The people that are with us are people who have turned the single most negative experience in their life into something positive. If you can give kids a message or a role model like that, in today’s environment, then you can give kids hope.” – said Ken Marslew.
The project is offered as a series of sessions and also can be run as an entire day’s program, at the school’s convenience.

“Our mission is to reach as many kids as possible – of any age – to reinforce what they are being taught about on the core values of society.”

Peacemaker Project - Life Skills to Change, Challenge and Save Lives - for every High School Student. Download Peacemaker Project brochure. (PDF 1 MB).