August 6, 2012 — The Border Mail launches a community campaign to win funding for a headspace centre in Albury-Wodonga as part of its Ending the Suicide Silence series. During the following months people of all ages sign thousands of butterflies which fill the windows of the Albury office with the message “Albury Wodonga needs headspace”. Throughout the next few months support for the campaign comes from local and national politicians, former Victorian premier and beyondblue chairman Jeff Kennett, sporting stars including Lauren Jackson, school students, parents and other media.
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October 17, 2012 — 100 Border high school students unite to call for a headspace centre. Students from 10 Albury and Wodonga high schools walked from their respective sides of the Border to Gateway Island as a symbolic gesture of coming together. They wore purple and yellow, representing colours of the butterflies which carried the messages of support.
November 2, 2012 — The Border’s call for a headspace centre was given a tacit tick of approval by headspace director of centre expansion Pat O’Leary, who said it would be at least two years before a centre could be opened. Mr O’Leary said the groundswell of community support on the Border for a headspace centre was almost unprecedented.
November 29, 2012 — The Border’s push for a headspace centre went all the way to Canberra, along with more than 4000 signed butterflies and a petition with close to 2000 signatures. Federal Mental Health Minister Mark Butler told The Border Mail and former Albury mayor Stuart Baker that Albury-Wodonga’s stand as one community gave it “a very strong case”.
March 6, 2013 — Federal MPs Sussan Ley and Sophie Mirabella tell The Border Mail they are confident Albury-Wodonga is on the list. to receive the next round of headspace centre funding after a meeting with the organisation’s chief executive Chris Tanti to put forward the Border’s case.
June 29, 2013 - The Border celebrates after Federal Minister for Mental Health Mark Butler announces Albury-Wodonga would get one of 15 new headspace youth mental health services, the successful culmination of a 10-month campaign for the centre by the Border community.
August, 2013 - Agencies keen to run the Albury-Wodonga headspace centre were invited to register expressions of interest ahead of an information session that discussed the future session with interested agencies and the general public.
April 3, 2014 - Headspace chief Chris Tanti made his first visit to Albury, speaking with young people and announcing a headspace would open in Wodonga’s High Street by the end of the year, addressing the real issues of bullying, stress and relationships.
May, 2014 - The Border got its first glimpse of the new home for headspace Albury-Wodonga at Gateway Health in Wodonga.
October 4, 2014 - Bek Nash-Webster announced as manager of headspace Albury-Wodonga. Ms Nash-Webster who has a degree in social work has previously worked in youth services with Albury Council and with Gateway Health.
January 12, 2015 - Headspace Albury-Wodonga opens its doors to young people, with an official opening planned for March.