He might look like any other 32-year-old, but he is the survivor of physical and sexual abuse that occurred when he was a child.

These days, as the minister at the Bathurst branch of The Salvation Army, Lieutenant Reid said he never imagined his life could be so good.

He grew up in Dysart, a small town 340 kilometres west of Rockhampton in Queensland.

He said he began drinking too much and taking drugs to try to escape from the memories of his childhood.

“I used to be physically abused by my dad, but that relationship between my dad and I has mended and we’ve got a fantastic relationship now,” he said.

“I was also sexually abused by our next-door neighbour for many years when they used to babysit us when we were kids.”

It wasn’t until he reached around 10 years old that he realised what was happening to him was wrong.

“When I was talking to one of my friends, I suppose I would have been about 10 or 11, and telling them what had been happening, they said ‘that’s not right’,” he said.

By the time he was 18, Lieutenant Reid’s life had spiraled out of control.

“At that point my life was a mess. I was drinking at lot and I was taking whatever drugs I could to numb the pain of what I was feeling rather than trying to get there and think for myself,” he said.

“I obviously met up with the wrong crowd of people and got involved in doing drugs and a lot of drinking.

“I think it numbed the pain I was feeling, but also helped me forget.”

On yet another big boozy night out, a chance encounter with The Salvation Army in Brisbane kicked off his long journey to a new life.

“I had a heavy night out on a Saturday night and walked past a church early Sunday morning thinking it was another night club. I went in because I heard music,” he said.

The place he’d walked into was a Salvation Army hall and the beginning of a new life. He was supported through counselling sessions and regained control of this life, and now things couldn’t be more different.

Lieutenant Reid said his wife of eight years Alana and their two children have brought him immeasurable happiness.

“If I’m to sit down and write a letter to my 18-year-old self and I read it when I was 18, I don’t think I’d believe it,” he said of how good his life is these days.

“It’s not just the work of The Salvation Army in my life, but it’s the work of God in my life.”

For tomorrow’s Red Shield Appeal Door Knock, Lieutenant Reid has asked the community to support the work of the Salvos. 

You can volunteer to be a collector by meeting outside the Westpac bank on William Street at 9am tomorrow.

Visit www.salvos.org.au to donate.