OCTOBER 24, 2017 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
Mental health help plea By Serena Seyfort
Sunbury fest an all-in win
(Shawn Smits)
Greater focus is needed on youth mental health, according to Macedon Ranges and Sunbury residents. The tight-knit communities have taken to social media in recent weeks, pleading for help for their adolescents. “We need to be doing more,” one resident posted in a heartfelt message. “Too many members of our community have been prematurely taken from us.” Macedon Ranges council’s Live4Life co-ordinator Pauline Neil said services available to young people needed to be further supported and promoted. “We need to sit down collectively and look at how we can improve that access of support to young people, and really look at providing our community with more education,” Ms Neil said. The Live4Life program, which was awarded the 2017 Community Development Award by Suicide Prevention Australia, educates secondary school children about mental health issues and offers training to parents, carers and teachers. Ms Neil said Macedon Ranges council was planning to host more youth mental health first-aid training sessions that would be open to anyone. She said both the state and federal governments needed to invest in mental health support and how it was delivered. “Imagine if we had on-the-ground youth workers that went to where the young people were – who would go and sit down at the skate park,” she said. Riddell Football Netball Club is one of several sports clubs stepping up its focus on mental health. President Chris Banks said the club was looking at how it could help the mental wellbeing of its members. “We’re definitely going to implement some sort of program to help the kids,” Mr Banks said. “Something needs to be done.” “I always try to look out for the kids - that’s what our club is all about.” One of the club’s coaches recently spoke to players about his own past struggles with mental health to help generate awareness. The club is exploring having a member be trained in youth mental health first-aid, with Mr Banks saying the club hopes the changes it is implementing will complement already existing services in the area. “I think we have enough services, they’re just not well enough known,” he said. Anyone experiencing mental health problems can call Lifeline 13 11 14, the Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 or visit www.eheadspace.org.au
Salesian College will be Sunbury central on Sunday. For its bustling Rupertswood Harvest, the college is this year extending the fun – and the fundraising opportunities – to primary schools and community groups. Fresh produce, a petting farm, homecraft, games, face-painting, equestrian demonstrations, pony rides, live entertainment and a range of food will be on offer at the family day. Organiser Kerri Pozaic said the harvest festival was designed to be an affordable way for locals to engage, spend time together and enjoy plenty of old-fashioned fun. “We’ve got gumboot throwing and lots of free activities,” she said. Ms Pozaic said local primary schools and community groups would raise funds by selling produce from their own vegie patches and community groups would host information stalls and give workshops on topics such as worm farming. Salesian College students will showcase work from their agricultural studies and give demonstrations such as sheep shearing. The students will even be selling toothpaste made in their science classes. The Rupertswood Harvest will be on Sunday, October 29, from 10am-2pm at Salesian College, 1 Macedon Street, Sunbury. Entry will be free. Sunbury Coaches will provide free buses from Sunbury train station to the school from 11am-1pm. SALESIAN COLLEGE STUDENTS AUSTIN AND JESS
Serena Seyfort