19^th January, 2001

By Christine Caulfield

PRIME Minister John Howard should spend a day in Footscray, tennis star Mark Philippoussis said yesterday.

After visiting his old neighborhood with youth worker Les Twentyman, the Scud urged Mr Howard to see first hand the effects drugs were having on the suburb.

"I'm sure he'll be stunned and want to do something about it," Philippoussis said.

"You don't really understand how bad it is until you walk the streets. It's just depressing."

As a special ambassador for Open Family the tennis champion took to the streets this week, meeting addicts, homeless children and volunteer workers.

"I was anxious to walk along Footscray, where I grew up," he said.

"Les and I stopped to talk to a lady who's lost her four children. She can't see them until she gets off drugs.

"Then we saw a guy who had an overdose. He was just lying there. I was stunned."

Philippoussis yesterday launched Open Family's Back To School program, which encourages homeless children to return to school by providing text books and stationery. Last year it helped 500 children go back to school.

Mr Twentyman, who established the program 12 years ago, said education should not be denied to people who needed it most.

"I have noticed the direct correlation between school absenteeism and drug use," he said. "We want to keep kids in classrooms and out of court rooms."

Philippoussis, who has supported Open Family since 1999, said his return to Footscray had been humbling.