Kickoff The Conversation, hosted by Burdekin Shore Council, was a raving success, with the drawcard of Aussie rugby league legend Wally Lewis encouraging locals to open up about their mental health.
Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin said the event was a dedicated effort to raise awareness, combat the stigma associated with mental health issues and equip attendees with invaluable tools and resources for self-care and support.
“Over 170 attendees enjoyed a night of inspiring stories, insights and tips from national and local speakers covering persistence, resilience, determination, reaching out and self-help,” Mayor McLaughlin said.
“The highlight of the evening was guest speaker and rugby league legend Wally Lewis, who shared his struggles with epilepsy, divorce and parenting a deaf child. His anecdotes from his footy career entertained the crowd and he generously gave away signed memorabilia and books.”
Speaking alongside Wally was the Unbreakable Farmer Warren Davies, Channel 9 presenter and author Steve Hadden and locals Janai Giddy, Andrea Piotto, Kate Gaze, and Lawrence Polga, who spoke on a range of topics including battling drought, debt, depression, alcoholism, and overcoming mental health issues.
CORES’ Ross Romeo and Sean Winning, a Clinical Nurse Consultant with Tackling Regional Adversity through Connecting Communities (TRACC) also shared professional advice on how and when to seek help.
“I extend my gratitude to Queensland Health for their generous contribution through the Mental Health Initiatives Funding, and to the speakers for openly sharing their experiences,” Mayor McLaughlin said.
“Without your support and valuable insights, this event would not have had the same profound impact,”
‘The King’ Wally Lewis joined a cast of locals to discuss mental health awareness. Photo credit: Saskia Photography
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