book launch

I was delighted to be invited to the book launch of local author Jackie Clark first published book titled “November”. “November” is the first in a series of 12 and is a romance-based novel. Congratulations Jackie on your inaugural published works.

It is never comfortable talking about suicide, but it is such an important community issue to discuss. Suicide awareness and prevention is something we all need to do more about. Each suicide is a tragedy. Lives often cut too short, often in their prime. We question ourselves like “why “or “if only I reached out or asked how they were going….” That is one of the reasons I have been hosting the monthly Mr Perfects Men’s BBQ for the last 2 years, as well as supporting Orange City Council and the Orange Region Suicide Prevention Network blue bench campaign by sponsoring a blue bench. Orange Council and many local businesses and organisations also donated funds to support the blue bench project. The blue seats and the blue painted trees you might see in your travels around the region are conversation starters for suicide, depression and mental health and part of the Blue Tree Project. If you see someone sitting on a blue bench around town, go and have a conversation with them and see how they are going. You may just save a life! Well done to the Orange Region Suicide Prevention Network and Orange City Council for driving this important initiative.

SES Western Zone

It was great to catch-up with Superintendent Brigid Rice of SES Western Zone, and her newest recruit (and daughter) Katherine Rice. The SES are looking for more recruits to bolster their ranks in readiness for inevitable storms and floods in the future. If you are interested in further information about joining the SES, check out their website or contact them via email at wtz.admin@ses.nsw.gov.au.