Around 162 guests filled out Radcliffes Echuca on Friday, October 12 to attend the Charles L King First National Real Estate annual long lunch for mental health.
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The event aimed to shine a light on mental health and wellbeing while also raising funds for local mental health support services including Mental Health and Wellbeing The Local, Headspace and Beyond Blue.
Guests came together to enjoy a two-course lunch while hearing from guest speakers including chief executive and founder of Sober in the Country, Shanna Whan.
Named Australian of the Year National Local Hero in 2022 and more recently honoured with an Order of Australia for significant contributions to rural community health, Mrs Whan shared her story of recovery from alcohol addiction.
During the event, Mrs Whan spoke openly about how her own life-and-death battle with trauma-related alcohol addiction and the subsequent descent over two decades into daily suicidal ideation.
After attending a recovery support meeting 400kms away and finally hearing the desperate concerns from her family, who felt she would be dead within six months, she was finally able to go alcohol-free.
Inspired to help others in rural towns facing similar battles, Mrs Whan began by hosting recovery support group meetings before transitioning away from traditional models and sought to create a safe place for rural people, by rural people.
What began as a blog became a page, a laser-focused rural online peer support group, and finally, a national charity.
The message at the heart of the charity isn’t prohibition but simply ensuring everyone is catered for and included and that we all need to remember it’s okay to say no to booze.
Mrs Whan said Sober in the Country's conversations have reached every corner of rural Australia over the years because this issue affects every single Australian.
“This charity and this conversation hasn't gone national because of me.... the reason it's gone national is because it is a story common to every single home in this country, bar none,” she said.
“We have this perception in Australia that a life without alcohol is less than or you're giving something up, or you're giving something away.
“I challenge you to rethink that and understand that when you are fully present, when you are fully healthy, and when you are fully well, you are not giving anything away — You are gaining everything.”
Mrs Whan added that drinkers and non-drinkers alike need to work together to 'be the change' so many need to see.
“This is literally the first alcohol-free long lunch I have ever attended or been so beautifully catered for with delicious, tasty, sophisticated options beyond booze or sugar,” she said.
“That is how we create social change and social impact. Through leadership like this that acknowledges mental health initiatives and alcohol don't mix well for all of us.”
Mrs Whan also thanked Christy O'Brien and the CLK First National team for their efforts and choosing to host an alcohol-free event.
After Mrs Whan’s presentation, CLK marketing and media officer Christy O’Brien took to the stage to facilitate some on the couch sessions.
The first session was with the Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals team who help people aged 26 years and over who are experiencing mental illness, psychological distress or struggling with substance use issues.
Following the Locals team, a panel of mental health experts and advocates from local organisations took to the stage.
Panellists included Headspace Echuca’s Jayden Howe, Echuca police youth specialist officer Shane Roberts, Andrew Thompson from Boys to Bush, coach and mentor Katrina Myers and StandBy founder Emma Knapp.
Each speaker introduced themselves and spoke about their role within their respective organisations.
The group also shared different ways they care for their mental health and the importance of connection with others in staying mentally healthy.
Mrs O’Brien said the event was an opportunity for guests to learn about the local resources and services are available to them.
“There's a mental health crisis in our society which you hear people talk about all the time, so we wanted to do something for the community,” she said.
“Today was a day of just getting little snippets of information and if someone came just to hear what someone wants to say about suicide, support after suicide... or they might be looking to drink less alcohol — that’s really important to them.
“We all can help each other out, even if not ourselves because we all have our ups and downs essentially, and not many people aren't impacted by mental health in some way, shape or form.”