General News
19 January, 2025
Rotary Horsham East Club brings Blue Tree Project now features to Wimmera
The Rotary Club of Horsham East encourages mental health conversation
The Rotary Club of Horsham East has brought the International Blue Tree Mental Health Project to the Wimmera, painting a tree blue at St Helen's parking bay on the Western Highway to spark conversations about mental health.
Rotary Club president Terry Harris said the club was looking for an environmental project and came across the International Blue Tree Project.
"It was founded in 2019 and is dedicated to changing how we approach mental health," he said.
"It encourages people to speak up when they experience mental health concerns.
"It resonated with our members, and Rotarian Michael Clarke took on the coordinator job."
He approached Breuer's Hire, J Bennett Painters and Dulux Paints to see if they would be involved with this project once the official approvals from Vicroads, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action had been received.
The businesses agreed to support the project, permissions were granted quickly and members rolled up their sleeves to begin painting.
"I would like to thank these businesses for their commitment to allow the Horsham community to discuss mental health using this blue tree, symbolising hope, connections and awareness," Mr Clarke said.
"The businesses donated their time and equipment to this cause, and Horsham East Rotary and I have found this incredibly impressive,"
Blue trees, now scattered across every continent, symbolise hope and are vital conversation starters.
"Rotary's Blue Tree is registered with this amazing worldwide project and is our reminder of hope, as well as the importance of keeping the conversation on mental health open and being aware of those around us," he said.
A plaque explaining what the Blue Tree represents has been constructed at the site and has also helped inform members about mental health.
Rotary International has several causes it encourages, including fighting disease, providing clean water and health to mothers and babies, growing local economies, responding to disasters, and protecting the environment.
"The club supports the mental health project, Lift the Lid, held in October each year, and the blue tree adds to the club's commitment to better mental health," Mr Harris said.
"Having the blue tree is another tangible and visual reminder of the importance of talking to people about mental health."
The Blue Tree Project is a registered charity. It began at a young man's funeral following a story about him and a friend painting a blue tree as a lark on his father's property.
That simple act has now become a global movement. and has made a significant impact worldwide.
There are 1337 registered blue trees worldwide. Scattered across every continent, blue trees symbolise hope and vivid conversation starters about mental health.
Donations to the charity are used to educate communities, train mental health, and provide resources about mental health.