Wearing fluro for mental health

DRESSED in their brightest colours, participants gathered at Torquay Beach as part of Fluro Friday on Saturday.

The event was run by OneWave, who also partnered with the World Surf League and Hydralyte, for the special event during the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.

OneWave founder Grant Trebilco said the group turned the waves fluro with everyone catching party waves and bringing colour to mental health.

“We had around 40 to 50 people down there in their brightest fluro to help start conversations about mental health.

“It was about giving people the chance to ride waves and letting more people know that it’s ok not to be ok.”

Mr Trebilco started OneWave 11 years ago and since then has held more than 10 Fluro Friday events in Torquay.

OneWave also run ‘Free the Funk’ programs across local schools, teaching more than 700 students about mental health and providing them with tools to help them look after themselves into the future.

“We teach them that it’s ok not to be ok and some days there’s bad waves and it’s okay to ask for help.”

Mr Trebilco said several children from the school programs also attended Fluro Friday with their families.

“It was amazing to see so many families down there with their kids that have been to the OneWave school program, and they were down there during the stories and during the party waves.

“That was something really awesome to see and that it doesn’t matter what age you are but coming down in your brightest fluro and sharing waves and talking about mental health can really help.”

Mr Trebilco said he was thankful to the Torquay community, World Suring League and Hydralyte.

“We were lucky enough to provide these free programs in the schools last year and did the same thing this year.

“It’s given more kids a chance to ride waves and talk about mental health.”

OneWave programs will return to the Surf Coast later this year with more ‘Free the Funk’ programs at local schools.

For more, head to onewaveisallittakes.com