Printed Post volume 24 | Page 14

CASE NEWS Donations and sponsorship for the CASE bike ride are coming in from all over New South Wales, Victoria and the A.C.T. Companies, banks, business large and small and individuals are supporting the ride from Hay to Canberra, which hopes to educate and promote suicide awareness . Auscott Cotton have donated $2,000 and Westpac bank, as well as a $2,000 donation have supplied riders with water bottles and shirts. Westpac banks along the route will be holding BBQ’s for riders, support team and well wishers. Ron Nairne, on behalf of the Riverina Hotel, has also returned as a major sponsor for this years ride. In other CASE news, CASE committee members recently met in Hay, with representatives from the Headspace4Griffith committee who are lobbying the Federal Government for funding to establishment a Headspace facility. Key purpose of the Ken Larkin (Secretary CASE), Sharleen Hill (Westpac representative), Ashley Power (Auscott Marketing Director) and Peter Dwyer (President CASE). Auscott and Wespac bak have come on board as major sponsors of the CASE ride from Hay to Canberra. meeting was to find out how CASE can support the Griffith committee, in their quest to have Headspace established in Griffith. Debbie also added that the upcoming CASE, 2014 Tour Against Suicide Bike Ride, has Headspace as one of the key beneficiaries of the ride. Headspace is a national youth mental health foundation, helping young people who are going through a tough time. Peta Dummett added our partnership with CASE and the Hay community demonstrates how regional and remote communities work in collaboration to support their communities. The support given to Headspace4Griffith strengthens our chance of securing this vital service for the young people in our communities. We need to continue to lobby both State and Federal Governments so they are aware how our communities are struggling from limited access to services. Headspace assists our youth with: . General Health . Mental Health and Counselling . Education, employment and other services . Alcohol and other drug services Full details about Headspace can be found at www.headspace.org.au Headspace centres are already operating in Wagga and Albury, and it is critical that one is establish in Griffith to support the youth of Griffith and surrounding towns. Griffith Headspace can also be found on Facebook. Don’t forget the One Day Suicide Intervention course on Sunday 9th March. The course is conducted by CORES (Community Response to Eliminate Suicide) a community based group from Kentish in Tasmania. Their award winning Suicide Intervention program is currently running in twenty eight communities across Australia. www.cores.org.au for further information Representing Griffith Headspace were Jenna Thomas and Mark Stephens from Murrumbidgee Medicare Local, and Peta Dummett - Community Development Co-ordinator, Griffith City Council. Debbie Lumley who is the CASE representative on the Griffith Headspace Committee indicated the meeting went very well, and CASE wanted to convey to the Griffith representatives that they were behind them and that Headspace was very much a part of CASE’s strategy to support the youth of Hay. CASE sponsor the cost of this course and the only cost for participants is $25 for morning tea and lunch. Further information: Peter Dwyer 0417 272 684 “You never know who you could help” 14