A GROUP of blade shearers has joined forces to make noise in an attempt to break the deafening silence surrounding suicide prevention in rural communities.
The newly founded Blade Shearers Heritage Foundation Incorporated group will host the Blades of Glencoe Shearathon in 2019, which will raise funds for mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
Current committee members are calling out to residents from across the region and beyond, asking them to donate their time to ensure a memorable day is staged.
Acting campaign manager Laurie Dacy said the group sought energetic talent to make the Shearathon an event of national significance for the Limestone Coast, like Generations in Jazz.
“If we’re going to hit our $100,000 target, we’ll need people to work the phones, administrators and organisers who know how to make things happen without hiding behind bureaucracy,” he said.
“The Blade Shearers Heritage Foundation will dedicate its efforts to assisting with mental health and suicide prevention, while preserving and promoting the traditional skills of blade shearing.
“There is no better venue in the world for this than the Glencoe Woolshed. It was built for blade shearing and it has not changed since 1863.”
The committee is currently calling out for community members willing to donate their skills and time and want to be a part of the management committee.
A community meeting will be held at Glencoe Hall on Tuesday from 6.30pm.
Interested people are invited to attend.
