The Story of LifeLine.

The First Call:

A telephone rang in Sydney, Australia on Saturday the 16th. March 1963 at 17h01. Someone had dialed in response to an announcement that said, "help is as close as the telephone. You don't have to be alone. Someone who cares is available 24 hours a day." The person on call reached for the receiver and said quietly "This is LifeLine, can I help you?" So began a telephone counselling service that has steadily spread and continues to spread around the world.

The Founder: Rev. Dr. Sir Alan Walker

(4th June 1911 - 29th Jan 2003)

The idea of helping people by telephone was the inspiration of Rev. Alan Walker, Superintendent of the Central Methodist Mission in Sydney since 1958. Having made several radio and TV appearances, Rev. Walker found himself being called by people facing difficulties and personal crises. He did not have the time or the energy to give them the attention they demanded and deserved. Rev. Walker conceived the idea of inviting the lonely and troubled to call a telephone number where selected and trained volunteers could offer a 'listening ear' and allow the caller a place 'to be heard'.

Start Up:

Sydney's LifeLine was 2 years in planning and preparation. 150 people attended a 9month course of training. The Central Methodist Mission raised the necessary funds. A century old, dilapidated building owned by the Mission, on the fringes of downtown Sydney was renovated for the purposes of this new ministry. A staff of fulltime employees was appointed to direct the work of the 'telephone counsellors' who were selected from the large class in training. The Director General of Post and Telephone Services authorized that this counselling service should be listed on the Emergency Page of the Telephone Directory and the phones were installed.

The Name:

As opening day came near, there remained one serious unresolved issue: the service needed a name. At first it had been called the 'Mantle of Christ' taken from the idea of the Flying Doctor Service that had spread a Mantle of Safety over the inland regions of Australia. In time this name was rejected as too obviously religious. It could be taken as too exclusive for those most in need of the service. 'Christian Service Centre' was the next name that was considered, but it was discovered that this name had prior usage. It was a newspaper journalist who finally provided the name. The Sydney Morning Herald reporting on a public meeting to support the initiative had headlined its article 'Telephone Life Line'. The name was perfect. So it was that everything was ready March 1963. The first call came one minute after the lines were opened. LifeLine was in business and the phones have never stopped ringing.

LifeLine in Action:

At the heart of LifeLine is the large volunteer force of well trained, carefully selected and efficiently managed volunteer men and women. Their primary task is to maintain a constant presence and availability of 'non judgmental and person centered counselling'. Their response must be accepting and caring, providing an atmosphere of safety and openness that will allow the caller to explore their feelings and problems. This provides an opportunity for the counsellor and the caller to consider the various alternatives that might be available to the caller in seeking to cope with their problem or in finding resolutions for their problem. Thus facilitating decisions and empowerment for their future based on informed choices. LifeLine's model of confidential, and where possible anonymous; counselling has proved to be very successful. It affords counsellors and callers the opportunity to enter into a very unique relationship of one to one, person to person communication.

LifeLine International:

Soon after the Sydney Centre opened, The American based magazine 'Time' featured the LifeLine service in its International Edition on 24th.January 1964. This brought enquiries from all over the world. Centres began to emerge in other cities around the globe. In order to aid in the establishment of new LifeLine Centres and in order to provide standards, the first International Convention was held in Sydney in August 1966. From that gathering came LifeLine International. While every LifeLine Centre follows the same pattern of standards, different names have been chosen in various countries. In the United States of America the service is called 'CONTACT' and in Canada 'Telecare'. The Japanese organisation of 'Inochi no Denwa' meaning literally Life Phone is a fraternal member of LifeLine International by mutual agreement. BI - Befrienders International, IFOTES - International Federation of Telephonic Emergency Services and LifeLine International signed a 'Memorandum of Understanding' 1999 pledging to work together in our commitment to offering an effective service to communities throughout the world.