WIMMERA residents are invited to the first Mental Health Awareness and Community Connections get-togethers.
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Run by a number of Wimmera organisations, events will be held at Goroke Community Health Centre on Thursday, July 19 from 6pm, and at Rupanyup Community Centre on Tuesday, July 24 from 6pm.
Regional Leadership Skills participant and event co-organiser Rachel Thomson said the events would hopefully be the first of many in the region.
“We saw that there wasn’t a lot of social connection happening in these remote areas and that mental health was a big concern for regional residents,” she said.
“Through the events, we want to help people reconnect and find some support through making connections with others.”
Catering will be available at both events.
Guest speakers at the Goroke event include author Gerald Murnane and Rural Financial counsellor Patrick White, while Grain Producers Australia chairman Andrew Weidemann and Rupanyup GP Dr Paul Moyo will speak at the Rupanyup event.
The events have been a project of the Regional Leadership Skills program, through the Wimmera Development Association.
Organisers have been planning since March.
“The plan is to create a model that can be sent out to different areas,” she said.
“Out of these nights, we want to find out whether people want and need a social get-together in their community on a regular basis.”