Shire backs suicide walk

This Sunday’s Suicide Prevention Awareness Network (SPAN) public walk in Bendigo is a significant opportunity to raise awareness about this critical issue.

Primarily designed to allow people from across central Victoria touched by suicide to remember loved ones, friends, work or schoolmates, the day will also include guest speakers, a free sausage sizzle and entertainment by Mez Whittle and the Castlemaine Pipe Band.

Using the theme “Tough Times Pass”, the walk will start with registration at the Dai Gum San Chinese precinct in Bridge St at 9.30am.

After an official welcoming ceremony, marchers will start the 3km walk around the city, finishing with the barbecue lunch back at the starting point.
Over lunch, speakers from beyondblue and national suicide bereavement support program StandBy will address the gathering.

Registration is $15 with a SPAN walk tee-shirt or free with no tee-shirt.

Loddon Healthy Minds Network is backing the event with an offer of free bus transport for any Loddon Shire residents who would like to go.

For more information on the day, please phone Alannah McGregor on 0408 541 082 or, for transport bookings, contact Council Community Wellbeing Officer Stacey Williamson on 5437 7999 as soon as possible.

Ride for a cause

Members of the Wedderburn Motorcycle Club have thrown their support behind this Sunday’s Black Dog Ride, a national initiative with 17 events across the country aimed at raising awareness of depression and suicide prevention.

The Wedderburn group will help with marshalling duties on the Bendigo-Echuca leg, which will see up to 100 motorcyclists set off from Lake Weeroona at 11am for lunch on the Murray River.
For more information on the ride, or to register, go to the Black Dog Ride website.