Rotary lift the lid on mental illness

Australian Rotary Health Committee district chair Catherine Eagleson, Australian Rotary Health Board director Jane Co and Torquay Rotary Club president Kelly Binyon.

THE Torquay Rotary Club held a fundraiser earlier this month for the Lift the Lid on Mental Health Rotary program as part of Mental Health Week.

Lift the Lid on Mental Illness is Australian Rotary Health’s National annual fundraising day for mental health research.

The money goes to scholarships that Rotary awards to research students to do research into mental illness.

The Torquay Rotary Club raised funds with a cake stall at Bunnings, a raffle and a “Crazy Hat” night. The Rotary Club was delighted with the support they got for these events, which included several businesses in Ocean Groves donating to the raffle.

Torquay Rotary Club service director Maggie Isom said the Crazy Hat night was embraced by all who attended.

“Everyone dresses up in a crazy hat to just have a fun night and it’s a fundraiser. Lift the Lid is about mental health awareness, and that’s the theme.”

Australian Rotary Health district chair Catherine Eagleson shared her own personal mental health story.

She was presented with a $1,000 cheque to go to the program, with the proceeds having been raised from the Torquay Rotary Club’s fundraising efforts.