LIFELINE Albury-Wodonga boss Chris Pidd has quit to spend more time promoting mental health through his stage show with Gold Logie winner John Wood.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The general manager of the Border’s Lifeline service, which provides counselling and operates op shops in Albury and Wodonga, ended his seven-year stint in the job on Friday.
Mr Pidd has been succeeded by Matt Burke, an Albury Wodonga Health board member, who has been chief executive of the Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation and general manager of the Wodonga Sports and Leisure Centre.
“I could have stuck behind the desk and done governance work, but what really excites me is the practical things with community development,” Mr Pidd said.
In particular the former Flying Fruit Flies Circus general manager is keen to focus on Carpe Diem with Wood.
The pair play a farmer and a stock and station agent in the work which addresses men’s mental health.
Having done 91 shows over two years, Mr Pidd said it was clear it was making an impact and he is planning a major national tour next year.
“Anecdotally what I know is this works and is saving lives,” he said.
“We’ve had lots of emails back that say that having seen the show people have sought support.
“It’s incredible and particularly out in the bush and in some of those remote communities where access to crisis lines can be tricky.
“You can have one bar of 3G and have to stand with a leg in the air to get mobile coverage.”
Mr Pidd said doubling the income from Lifeline’s op shops had been his biggest achievement while leading the charity.
He said opening a store in Wodonga had been a key factor, but there was also greater amounts of “seconds” clothing being sold off for export to Third World countries.
Over his term, the volume of donations has risen to 5½ to six tonnes per week from two to three tonnes.
“Three years ago over Christmas time 20 tonne would go to the tip, last year we took five tonnes, so there’s 15 tonnes being diverted from landfill over that busiest period, December-January,” Mr Pidd said.
He added that with collections from charity bins now seven days a week, rather than three, there had been less need to junk spoiled donations due to damage from exposure and vandalism.
- Receive our daily newsletter straight to your inbox each morning from The Border Mail. Sign up here