Barnawartha barista offers free cupcakes and coffee to town for R U OK? Day

Kathy Weber, who manages Barny Brew, a coffee van next to Barnawartha's post office, provided free coffees and cupcakes to the community as part of an R U OK? Day event in the town on Thursday.

Ms Weber has lost family to suicide and revealed she attempted it herself in what she described "a really low point in her life".

Her new role as the town's barista is more than just making coffee, it also involves being a good listener.

"I really understand where people are at and I want to give back because I feel so much better in myself when I'm giving back to people in the community or just helping anyone," Ms Weber said.

"There's so many broken people that are hurting at the moment because of COVID and lockdown and being isolated at home.

"I've heard it all in the past few weeks, especially with the internet being down. People are homeschooling and working from home and really struggling.

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"There's a lot of really sad stories with people sick in hospital and family that can't see them, or farmers that can't do their work."

Ms Weber came up with the coffee and cupcake concept and the timing was perfect for R U OK? Day, but she doesn't want the message to be forgotten.

"It would be great if we could do something like this more often, not just asking people once a year," she said.

"Hopefully we can make an effort to ask people 'are you okay?' and following up with 'are you really okay?'"

Barnawartha Primary School students all wore yellow to mark the occasion and were delivered cupcakes by the tiger mascot from the town's football club.

"We're teaching kids to speak up at a young age and ask their friends if they're okay," Ms Weber added.

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