The first public wellbeing festival run by teenagers on the Border will be held in March.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
WellFest aims to foster a sense of community and promote wellbeing when it is run in QEII Square in Albury on Saturday, March 5.
Year 12 students from Albury High School, Xavier High School, The Scots School Albury and Trinity College have organised the program to raise awareness about youth mental illness.
WellFest committee spokesperson Milla Reid, 17, said the idea came out of the Wellbeing Group, which was formed by Albury High students last year.
She said the group wanted to reach more youth through a wellbeing festival.
“I have suffered from anxiety myself and I didn’t want other people to feel that way,” she said.
The Wellbeing Group formed after Australian sportsman Joe Williams addressed Albury High students about mental health early in 2015.
Milla said Williams, who had battled depression, struck a powerful chord with many senior students.
“He shared a lot of personal stuff that students could relate to,” she said.
“He is a boxer and has had lots of tough fights but he said the hardest fights were in his head.”
Williams will be a guest speaker at WellFest as will sports presenter and Beyond Blue ambassador Brad McEwan, who attended the Border’s Winter Solstice in 2015.
Among other highlights of WellFest will be music, food stalls, activities and information stands by services such as Headspace Albury Wodonga.
Live music includes The Northern Folk, My Brothers Friends and Harry and Shannon.
Retro Youth Cafe programs co-ordinator Ben Bartlett said the students had approached all of the stallholders and sponsors.
“Even though we have great facilities on the Border like Headspace, youth can still feel isolated in a town like Albury,” he said.
“The wellbeing group and festival will go a long way to help youth.”
Milla said the Wellbeing Group had gained positive feedback from their peers for helping them connect.
“We do things like Mexican waves in assembly and put posters out with inspirational quotes,” she said.
WellFest will be held from 11am until 3pm.