Date set for Linton tree to turn blue

LINTON residents will be painting a tree blue in support of mental health awareness in mid-March.

Locals will be invited to head down to the Linton Railway Precinct on Saturday 14 March when the tree – which is dead, heavily pruned and of indeterminate species – will be painted in a shade of colour known as Blue Tree Blue.

The colour is named after the Blue Tree Project, which began in 2019 and was inspired by a story shared at the funeral of Jayden Whyte, who died by suicide in 2018.

The original blue tree began as a prank by Jayden and a friend – together, they painted a dead tree blue on Jayden’s family farm in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region in 2014.

What started as an act of fun and mischief has since transformed into something profoundly meaningful – blue trees have been painted at more than 100 sites in Victoria, and the concept has spread throughout Australia and worldwide promoting awareness of men’s mental health.

Four litres of the water-based blue paint for use in Linton is being supplied by Crowies Paints, the officially designated sponsor for tree paintings in and around Ballarat.

Linton and District Progress Association member Karen Sherlock has spearheaded the campaign for a blue tree in the township after learning of the Blue Tree Project while working in Charleville, Queensland.

Ms Sherlock said the progress association was planning to host a community day on 14 March, probably with a barbecue and other activities, while anyone who wants to can contribute a few brush strokes to the project.

Brushes would be available for participants to use, she said.

“It’s not a big tree so we’re not going to need a whole pile of helpers, but we’d like to put on some sort of community event,” Ms Sherlock said.

Ms Sherlock put out the call for nominations of suitable trees in May last year and the preferred tree was settled on at an association meeting in August.

“Basically all said yes, that’s a good one, because it’s in a really good location – there’s car parks there, the skate park’s there, the rail trail passes through, so it’s eye-catching from the road and eye-catching from every other angle,” she said.

The railway precinct is at the eastern entrance to the town.

Ms Sherlock said use of the tree had been given the green light by the Golden Plains Shire, which manages the precinct land.

More details about the community day will be publicised as the date approaches. The Blue Tree Project’s website is bluetreeproject.com.au

If you or someone you know needs mental health support, visit beyondblue.org.au or call their 24/7 hotline on 1300 22 4636. You can also visit lifeline.org.au or call them on 13 11 14 and help for young people is available at kidshelpline.com.au or by calling them on 1800 55 1800.