This is the aim of the Yarrawonga Mulwala Rotary Club with their inaugural LIFT THE LID WALK for Mental Health to be held next Sunday, February 26, from the Splash Park at the end of Ely Street to the Rowing Club.
In a coup for Yarrawonga, the local Lift the Lid Walk will be the first to be held in regional Australia with past walks occurring in metropolitan areas.
“This is the first regional country Lift the Lid walk at least in Victoria and possibly across Australia which is an honour for our club and is something special for the town,” Yarrawonga Mulwala Rotary Club event co-ordinator Ron Kennett said.
“Several service clubs in town are supporting the walk by purchasing tickets to take part on the day with the licensed clubs also sending employees to join in as part of their mental health/wellbeing programs.
“Other local Rotary clubs in the region are also assisting us and the event by sending members of their clubs to join in on the walk.
“Our sponsorship has been really good. We have four main sponsors, ClubMulwala as our Gold sponsor, De Maria Mitsubishi, Moira Shire and the Yarrawonga Chronicle as bronze sponsors.
“We also have multiple businesses coming on board and assisting where they can.
“We would love some of the sporting clubs in town to come down and join in as well but it is important for everybody to note that it is a walk and talk event, not a race.
“Our main aim is for people to come along and have a chat while doing some exercise. This can assist with bettering someone’s mental health and we hope it also releases the stigma behind the illness a bit more too.”
As an added incentive, at the end of the walk, Rotary will be providing lunch for the day with plenty of professionals and everyday local people around to stop and have a chat with.
The walk, which was the brainchild of passionate mental health advocate Vicki Stewart, a past president and long-time member of the Rotary Club of Mooloolaba and began in 2016, is an important occasion to ‘life the lid’ on local mental health and support local awareness and associated organisations.
“Chairperson of Rotary Health Australia Kevin Shadbolt OAM will be in attendance as the special guest to speak about what Rotary Health is doing to assist in mental health research,” Mr Kennett said.
“The day will have PA sponsor interviews, guest and guest speaker interviews as well as 10 organisations who will be promoting their services including Yarrawonga Health and Yarrawonga Mulwala Community and Learning Centre etc.
“Walk up registrations will be accepted from 9am onwards on the day then we will begin from 10am.”
All proceeds from the day will be used to assist the vital Australian Rotary Health Research (ARH) program into mental health
Australian Rotary Health is a national, not-for-profit organisation that funds mental health research and provides community education about health issues. The organisation supports work on a broad range of health problems but specialises in mental health.
They are one of the largest independent funders of mental illness research over the past two decades in Australia.
Funding more than $53 million in projects, ARH funded research has played a founding role in establishing vital programs such as teen Mental health First Aid (tMHFA) and Cool Kids.
For those who would like to take part in the local walk, if you register before tomorrow, February 16 you will receive a t-shirt with your ticket which will be on full display on the day.
Registrations will remain open until the start of the walk for those who register after February 16 to receive a free hat.
“We have held ‘hat days’ where we wear some weird and wacky hats with say a gold coin donation which goes towards mental health but we are so proud to be involved in this great Rotary Australia initiative,” Mr Kennett said.
“We also plan to host the Lift the Lid walk annually for the next three years with the hope to continue it further into the future.”
To register as an individual or couple for this event, visit: www.liftthelidwalk.com.au/yarrawonga-mulwala or if any local groups would like to get involved contact Ron on 0435 455 727 before the day to assist in planning.
If you would like to donate to the Lift the Lid program or to Australian Rotary Health, please contact the Rotary Club of Yarrawonga Mulwala.
For more information on Australian Rotary Health, visit www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au.
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