The Burdekin gathered at Home Hill’s ‘The Vault’ on Saturday, 23 August for an occasion that was as connecting, heartwarming and educational as it was enjoyable—Mia’s Self-Care Night.
Hosted by Mia Galbraith, the event raised valuable funds for local suicide prevention service CORES Queensland as part of the Water Festival Ambassador Program, which encourages ambassadors to raise funds for local organisations and charities.
Galbraith said the decision to support CORES stemmed from a deeply personal connection to the issue of suicide.
“I lost a dear friend a year ago due to suicide, the most happy person—always laughing, lit up every room he walked into, and yet silently struggled the most,” she said. “I wanted to help make a change in the community by being there for people who have been in my situation, and to ensure every person understood ‘You matter. Your voice matters. Your story matters.’”
With the theme of self-care, the event included heartwarming and informative speeches from Janai Giddy and Ross Romeo, both reflecting on their own mental health journeys and leaving the crowd with practical tips to apply themselves. The audience then became participants during ‘self-care bingo’—a fun yet practical mental health check-up—as well as multiple rounds of standard bingo.
Live music from Piper Grogan kept the mood high throughout the night, with afternoon tea, dessert and drinks also on offer during the event.
Galbraith hopes that beyond the money raised for CORES, the event served as a valuable tool for attendees.
“I set a goal at the beginning of the night: that every attendee would take something away from the night. I hope that everyone achieved that goal, whether it was a certain quote from one of the guest speakers, or a message from an affirmation.”
Overwhelmed by the support the event received, Galbraith expressed her pride in having resonated with so many locals.
“There was a moment when I was standing on the stage saying my welcome speech to the attendees, where I stood there for a split second and took it all in,” she said. “People I had never met before came just out of support because they heard who I was representing… Those people were there wanting to make a change, wanting to make a difference.”
The night highlighted the importance of self-care, understanding, and speaking openly about mental health.
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