Margaret Farrugia’s secret weapon in quitting was to stick a photo of the then Prime Minister on the front of her cigarette packet to deter her from smoking.

She imagined living to 100, but it was only at 47 years of age that Belinda Wilson, a packet-a-day smoker, had a heart scare that threatened to take her life.

When Aunty Martha Watts started smoking it was a very rebellious thing to do, Aboriginals weren’t allowed in hotels at that stage, so she would sneak to the pub to buy a packet of cigarettes.

He thought he was fairly fit and healthy, but it wasn’t until a cancer scare that Harold Stewart decided it was time to quit smoking once and for all.

After being diagnosed with Colon/Rectal cancer, David Copley was given only 18 months to live, but four years later he is cancer free and says he owes his life to quitting cigarettes.

If she had not become addicted to cigarettes, Kirsty Ah Mat believes she could have followed in her father’s footsteps and represented Australia at the Olympic Games.

She has never smoked a cigarette or drank alcohol in her life, but for Nari Sinclair, the effects of passive smoking have caused her to suffer a life of debilitating health issues.

Since giving up smoking, Aunty Irene Allan has produced a meditation CD to help others cope with stress and the cravings associated with quitting smoking.

After giving up smoking Jessie Matthews set herself a target of walking 10 km a day to get back her fitness. She lost more than 20 kg over four months.