I’ve been a member of Rotary for more than 10 years, first with the Rotary Club of Mackay Sunrise, and more recently, Rotary Mackay Corporate Club. Rotary members are part of a global network of 1.4 million neighbours, friends and leaders who volunteer their skills and resources to solve issues and address community needs.
During this time, I’ve participated in some great projects, including the Mayor’s Charity Ball, which has now raised more than $1million for community organisations in our region, and the RAWCS Hands-On Project, where a team of Rotarians travelled around Cambodia for two weeks, fitting prosthetic arms to people who had lost limbs in landmine and other accidents.
The latest initiative being undertaken by our Corporate Club is the “Lift the Lid Walk”. The original “Walk for Mental Health” was the brainchild of passionate mental health advocate Vicki Stewart, Past President, and long-time member of the Rotary Club of Mooloolaba.
After three successful years holding the event and raising much needed funds for Australian Rotary Health, we are delighted to share the “Lift the Lid Walk” for Mental Health with the Mackay community in 2023.
The walk and talk format is deliberately not a race, but an opportunity to get locals together to raise awareness of the serious mental health issues we face in all areas of our communities, schools, homes and workplaces.
Now more than ever, we need to break down the stigma that continues to plague our society so that people are more comfortable to discuss and seek help for their mental health issues.
So, please join us on Sunday, August 6, commencing at 9am, at Bluewater Quay. We’ll have a coffee van, sausage sizzle and stalls with information and support for mental health. It will be a relaxed morning to enjoy the company of friends and other walkers. Lift the Lid Walk for Mental Health will get you walking and get us all talking while we raise vital funds for Australian Rotary Health.
Register at: liftthelidwalk.com.au/mackay.
And if you’re interested in becoming a Rotarian, please get in touch. We’d love to have you as a member.
Cr Belinda Hassan
Mackay Regional Council