THE Wimmera Pride Project members have discussed plans for the future and floated the idea of creating new a physical and mental health program.
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Project co-founders Maddi Ostapiw and Loucas Vettos started the group last year as a support network for the region’s LGBT+ community.
The group hosted a forum on Sunday to to let people know exactly what direction it will go in the next few months and years.
It also gave members the opportunity to shed some light on what the group has been doing behind the scenes.
Ms Ostapiw said the project was first of its kind in the Wimmera and the group had established a close friendship with the Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly.
She said as part of that friendship, the group would have the opportunity speak to the Horsham Volleyball Association in the future.
Ms Ostapiw said the forum had a turnout she expected.
“We had six people come to the forum and we spoke for about 45 minutes,” she said. “We have decided some things that will suit us best in going forward.
“And we spoke about what we wanted to achieve.”
Ms Ostapiw said the group talked about starting a physical and mental health program to help people in the community.
“Mental health is a huge part of everyone’s life,” she said.
Representatives from GWMWater and Grampians Community Health also attended the meeting.
“We were prepared for it to be a smaller event seeing as we are a new group and everyone in the community is still getting used to us,” Ms Ostapiw said.
“It was great to have a corporate side to the forum as well.
“We were hoping to get a community response and we did and we realised that this kind of organisation is needed.”
The group is still in search of committee members.
“We have been in meetings a lot to set down the plans for the future,” she said.
“There is no point in an advocacy group if no one has heard of them. We discussed that one day each month we will be having some sort of social day.
“Something like a movie night or as simple as a coffee.
“We could even have larger events such as a fate. People will be able to come along if they want and socialise with everyone and be part of the group.”
The project aims to educate people in the Wimmera.
“It’s about getting rid of the social stigma,” Ms Ostapiw said.
She said anyone interesting in joining the Wimmera Pride Project committee could call her on 0437 244 468.
She said people could also visit the group’s Facebook page.
