Brian Mitchell (Lyons, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last week the Southern Midlands Council, in collaboration with Rural Alive and Well, RAW; and Rotary, launched the big blue farmer community arts project. The Big Blue Farmer is part of the Oatlands 'looking out for each other' initiative and will sit at the entrance to the small town as a reminder of the importance of good mental health and wellbeing and to check in on our mates. The Big Blue Farmer is made from recycled baling twine, which was donated by farmers and was knitted together by locals; Agfest patrons, including myself; Oatlands District High School students; and members of the northern Midlands communities.

The initiative was started by Tasmanian artist Grietje van Randen, who has done similar projects in the communities of Bothwell and Deloraine, which are also in my electorate. RAW CEO Liz Little said:

The Blue Farmer is here to remind us that we need to look out for each other. When people are doing it tough it is important that they have someone they trust to talk to, someone who will listen and help them get the support they need.

Too many of our rural and regional communities do not have accessible mental health services. Organisations such as RAW help to bridge this gap by offering mental health outreach programs. RAW operates 24/7 and can be contacted on 130043576283. Thank you, Liz Little. I welcome her successor, Barb Walters. I look forward to working with her in the future.