Dinner for two: Mind Australia’s Northern Victoria mental health and wellbeing hub manager Rebecca Matheson turned waitress at the community lunch in Rochester last week. She is with long-time Rochester residents Maragret and Alan Hitchcock.
Mind Australia stepped up its involvement with the Rochester community last week when it staged a free community lunch at the Rotunda Park in Rochester on Thursday.
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The two-hour lunch, which was open to everyone, was catered for by Rochester Bakery (which adjoined the event site).
Popular children’s entertainer Tim Tim, who was a big hit at the whole-town Christmas party, attended with a face painter to keep youngsters entertained and Rochester-based musician Paul Colyvan provided live music.
Northern Victorian Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs service manager Rebecca Matheson Omondi said the response from the community, and those who provided services and entertainment, was amazing.
“The lunch was all about providing people who have been isolated since October last year, following on from two years of COVID, to enjoy some social interaction and a community activity where they could mingle with people from their own town,” Ms Matheson Omondi said.
Ms Matheson Omondi has led a team of six, soon to be doubled, in providing support to the Rochester, Elmore and Echuca communities — interacting in the community through unscripted meetings at cafes and other meeting points in the towns.
She said there was a consistent message from people about what services they wanted.
“There is a concern about people feeling disconnected. Our team doesn’t lecture people, it is more about listening and directing them to options for assistance,” Ms Matheson Omondi said.
She said the aim of the lunch was to keep people together.
Mind Australia has been working in Rochester for three weeks, based out of the 4Rs Rochester Community House building on a Tuesday and Thursday.
The team moved straight from its work through the pandemic onto supporting Victoria’s flood-affected communities.
“We started in December 2021 and were due to wind up in June this year,” Ms Matheson Omondi said.
“It was really designed for COVID, but there is a real need for our services in these communities. I am expecting an extension to the funding to continue our work.”
Ms Matheson Omondi said the staff had assisted 140 people in accessing a variety of assistance since they started working in the area.
“Our team is very aware how to interect with people from small towns. They are country folk and all come from towns across the region,” she said.
She said the organisation, among other services, had helped families in desperate need of respite from “caravan living’’.
“A family approached us saying they need some time out of their caravan and we were able to help,” she said.
Ms Matheson Omondi said the voluntary work of musician Paul Colyvan and children’s entertainer Tim Tim was typical of the community spirit in the town.
How much is that doggy: Miles and Lola Hutchinson with the poodle balloon creations of renowned children’s entertainer Tim Tim. The free lunch attached to the event attracted a large crowd in spite of the hot weather that greeted participants in the Mind Australia co-ordinated event.
“They have both given their time and Tim Tim even brought someone with him to do face painting,” she said.
Mind Australia is one of the largest providers of community-managed psychosocial services in Australia.
Mind community mental health practitioners will continue to work in Rochester every Tuesday and Thursday through informal meet and greet opportunities.
“We will have our staff attending and look forward to learning more about the challenges faced by the Rochester community,” Ms Matheson Omondi said.
“Talking face to face with people is the best way to understand what assistance is needed and how we can provide tangible guidance and support to the town as it works towards recovery.”
Ms Matheson Omondi thanked the Rochester Bakery for its involvement in the lunch-time event at the Rotunda park, along with those community members who attended the community celebration.
If you would like to meet with a Mind representative, you can visit the 4Rs any Tuesday or Thursday, or contact RCH Flood Recovery Co-ordinator Tanya McDermott to book an appointment on 0407 413 156 or email recovery@communityhouse.org.au
For more information on Mind’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs visit the Mind Australia website, https://www.mindaustralia.org.au/
Summer fun: Facepainting, music, bubble blowing and other craft activities were part of the Mind Australia community lunch alongside Rochester Bakery last Thursday. Among the participants was six-year-old Azalea Solomano-Keyzer.
Burst of bubbles: Nothing is more assured of bringing a smile to the face of children than giant bubbles being blown by a slown dressed in a propeller hat on his head.
Serious business: Armed with green and gold balloon swords, Mace Nuttall has a serious look on his face as he enjoys the children’s entertainment on offer at the free lunch - organised by mental health and wellbeing organisation Mind Australia.
Born n' Bred: Musician Paul Colyvan donated his time to perform at the Rochester Rotunda for the Mind Australia community lunch. Organisers received support from entertainers and volunteers to co-ordinate the well-attended wellbeing event.
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