Starting a conversation can be the turning point
World Mental Health Day is held on October 10. I encourage everyone, whether you have a lived experience of mental illness or not, to think about mental health and wellbeing of yourself and those around you.
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The journey to positive mental health is not a journey we should walk alone.
I have been working with disadvantaged young people for over 40 years and each person I work with has their own unique story and journey to share.
I encourage them to connect with trusted family and friends to share their journey towards better mental health, and I am asking you to do the same.
Mental health issues affect everyone. Whether or not you yourself are experiencing mental illness, there is always someone around you who is.
As a community we need to look out for each other and that begins with talking.
From my experience on dealing with mental health I know that starting a conversation can be the biggest turning point for vulnerable young people.
At Youth Off The Streets, we have dedicated youth and case workers who assist young people on a daily basis.
The unfortunate truth is that 14 per cent of Australian young people aged 4 to 17 have mental health or behavioural problems. It is imperative for us to step in and support our vulnerable kids at this time of crucial growth.
Taking the time to discuss these issues, how they are affecting you and how you are overcoming them can set the path for not only your growth, but for others to follow in the journey of self-care.
This World Mental Health Day, I urge you to support each other and in particular support our young people in starting conversations. Please visit 1010.org.au for more information.
Father Chris Riley, chief executive and founder of Youth Off The Streets
Pooh is safe at home
Travelling on the Kings Highway from the Clyde Mountain to Goulburn, we saw 50 wombats and 15 kangaroos that had met their demise on the side of the road. Mating season has had disastrous consequences.
However, I'm pleased to report that Pooh Bear is safe at Pooh Bear Corner. He was out searching for honey when vandals trashed his sign. He had no idea these fools were trying to disrupt his peace.
He has many bear friends again sitting at the entrance, so all is well. We can still look forward to passing this landmark and maybe Pooh will be there with his head in a honey pot.
Barb Carter
Pot holes, mobile phones: dangers for cyclists
The latest bit of bad news is that Goulburn Mulwaree Council just [bought] five bicycles and gave them to kids to begin bicycle week. A bad idea? you might ask. Well, yes, as there is nowhere to ride these bikes safely.
The BMX track is the biggest mess it has ever been. The so-called cycle lanes are badly set out. Some are so narrow one cannot ride a bicycle there. The rest have cars parked on them. There are dangerous pot holes in every road in the Shire. The council widened part of Middle Arm Road using 14mm gravel, which is hard on cyclists and even on car [and] bus tyres.
Sadly, I have to say to parents to make sure their kids are able to ride safely and aware of traffic as some car drivers simply do not care about cyclists.
Watch a car going past a parked car: drivers allow one metre more than [the] safe distance ... driving past cyclists. They do not allow any distance; some are not even aware there is a cyclist, even though the bicycle rider is wearing bright colours.
Too many drivers are focused on their mobile phones. I saw a young lady the other day eating with one hand, talking on the phone with the other, and driving through a shopping centre [and] busy road.
