“IF the government had half the commitment these young people have, we would have solved this yesterday.”
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Such was the opinion of Archdeacon Peter Macleod-Miller strolling over to Saturday’s Makin’ Noise for headspace concert from nearby St Matthew’s Anglican Church.
He said the government should take a page out of the book of event organiser, Border band The Jester Complex.
“The fact is (mental illness) is such an enormous issue and nothing is being done.
“It’s a matter of life and death.”
The crowd was smaller than expected at the concert, in support of getting a Border youth mental health centre.
But The Jester Complex vocalist Pete Henderson said “you’ve got to start somewhere”.
“We had people coming up to us at the end and thanking us and we’ve been asked if we’re going to do another one,” Henderson said of the concert, which included Border bands Idle Fret and Distant Memory.
“I hope by us making even a small impact on a handful of people it might shock others into doing something.
“Realistically, all we care about is contributing as much as we can to make a difference.”
Evarna Moras, 17, spent her afternoon getting the crowd to sign butterflies in support of a headspace centre.
“I have friends who have depression who think the only solution is not to talk to people or to cut themselves, they don’t think anyone is there for them,” the Wodonga teenager said.
“We need to provide them with somewhere to go, someone who will listen and someone who understands on a professional level.”