Champions of the region make the cut

A Bunbury mother who took her son’s methamphetamine addiction into her own hands has inspired a thriving community group.

Lina Pugh, who founded community support group Doors Wide Open with fellow local mum Julie Kent, has single-mindedly forged ahead to grow the not-for-profit charity, which has helped hundreds of South West families cope with the complex fallout from addition to ice.

It is Ms Pugh’s determination, commitment and success in helping change the lives of many that has seen her selected as part of the South Western Times Most Influential People list.

Ms Pugh joins 20 other influential people in the industry, business, government and sporting arenas, identified as making the region a better place to live and work.

“I’m really, really amazed actually ... I’m really humble as a person, so that title is quite amazing for me and I’m really grateful,” Ms Pugh said of making the list.

“I consider myself to be someone who is quite inspirational to a lot of people and yes, I do influence a lot of people in the right direction.

“I like to make sure people leave in a positive way, so positively influential I would say.”

After starting her personal journey alongside her son more than three years ago, Ms Pugh has grown the group into a renowned resource for those battling addiction.

She has also worked tirelessly to secure financial support from the State Government.

She said it was seeing the results and the changes in people who walked through the doors that kept her doing what she did.

“When I came into this, I came in to open up a conversation and hence the name Doors Wide Open, and that’s happened,” she said.

“People are becoming less scared to talk about it ... I hated the stigma around it and that is starting to fade in some sectors and I think the non-judgement, people are not being so judgemental about each other.

“There’s an understanding that it’s a disease and we need to help each other through this.”

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