R U OK? Convo Convoy rolls into Mount Gambier for Rail Lands event
R U OK?s Conversation Convoy rolled in to the Rail Lands precinct at Mt Gambier today as part of their six-week Conversation Convoy that will engage over 30 communities in events designed to teach the four steps to starting a conversation.
The steps are: Ask, Listen, Encourage and Check in.
Students from Tenison High School and Mount Gambier North Primary joined in as part of their respective school wellness programs that have a mental health focus.
Students participated in a series of activations highlighting messaging around each of the four steps.
R U OK? CEO Brendan Maher opened the event and introduced Mount Gambier Mayor Andrew Lee who said he believed the R U OK? message was a vital one for the local community and noted that many residents of Mt Gambier regularly checked in with him and it made all the difference to his own wellbeing.
He encouraged the students to ask are you okay of each other, and they collectively checked in with the person next to them at the event.
Maher spoke to the 80 or so guests about the Convo Convoy, the foundations of R U OK? and introduced mental health partners, Tracey Wanganeen from Suicide Prevention Australia, Mirkarla Papini from headspace, Ingrid Coombe from Skylight as well as Joy Rider from Rural and Remote Mental Health.
R U OK? ambassadors and performers (local) Louise Adams and James Van Cooper participated in a Q&A about the reasons they feel strongly about the R U OK? message and discussed ways they had supported each other through their own personal tough times.
The Convo Convoy said good-bye to Mount Gambier and will arrive in Ballarat tomorrow, Tuesday, August 21, for their next community event.
R U OK? CEO Brendan Maher said the tour is a great way to get out into the community and meet residents. He said the Convoy had a strong focus on regional and remote towns, like Mount Gambier, where ongoing support is still needed.
The Conversation Convoy finishes on R U OK?Day, 14 September in Cairns, Queensland, with ‘R U OK? Rocks Cairns’, a concert featuring R U OK? ambassadors like Ben Lee, Travis Collins, Louise Adams and James Van Cooper, to celebrate the end of their journey on R U OK?’s biggest day.
Head to www.ruok.org.au/conversation-convoy to track the journey or find a local event.
For media enquiries please contact:
Lisa Minner: [email protected] or 0456 475 033
Nicole Warwick: [email protected] or 0412 934 643
Lizzy Thomas: [email protected] or 0400 922 919
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