Local champion’s years of service honoured

A GEELONG woman well known across the region for her work with high risk and homeless young people has been inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.

Recognised by the state government has a local champion, Lyndie Freestone has worked in both public health and volunteer roles for the last 30 years, helping to establish and develop programs that promote positive mental health in children and young people.

She was inducted into the Honour Roll by Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins at a ceremony, held last Thursday at the Arts Centre Melbourne, alongside 20 other Victorian women.

“The Victorian Honour Roll of Women recognises remarkable, intelligent and determined women who have paved the way for countless others, contributed to their communities and become leaders in their fields,” Ms Hutchins said.

Ms Freestone said it was both humbling and surreal to be recognised alongside the other inductees.

Her impact in the community has been far-reaching, from piloting the first outreach mental health services for high risk and homeless youth during her time with the Royal Children’s Hospital and developing the first dedicated adolescent mental health service for the Barwon Southwestern region, to crafting programs for The Lighthouse Foundation, a long-term therapeutic accommodation and support service for high risk and homeless youth.

“To see people overcome adversity and grow, it brings a lot of quiet pleasure that’s hard to describe,” Ms Freestone said, reflecting on her years of service to the community.

“If you can make a difference in a person’s life and you can see them grow, it creates a lot of really lovely energy.”

Ms Freestone has also helped to pioneer what has become the Barwon Health North Child and Family Service, a developmental assessment, support and therapy service for children in Geelong’s northern suburbs, and she continues to encourage female leadership by empowering young women to take on new opportunities and reach their potential.

She has also been a dedicated member of the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club for the past 10 years and, more recently, assumed the role of president.

“I see the surf lifesaving as preventative mental health. It really helps to connect young people to a local hub, [giving them] a sense of community,” Ms Freestone said.

“Kids can get on their bikes and come down and grab their board and get out in the water and it doesn’t cost them an arm and a leg, and it’s just really accessible.”

Since it was established in 2001, more than 750 women from across the state have been inducted into the Honour Roll for their significant and lasting contributions in a broad range of fields, including science, art, environment, law, social justice, research, health, media and education.

Bellarine MP Alison Marchant celebrated Ms Freestone’s well-deserved induction into the 2024 Honour Roll.

“Recognised for her remarkable leadership and excellence in her work in the mental health field and her commitment to the community, it was wonderful to see Lyndie be recognised and inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women,” she said.