Community
2 August, 2024
$76,000 boost for Let’s Talk
THE Let’s Talk Foundation was the recipient of a $76,649 donation last weekend thanks to a hard-working group of shearers and their team of volunteers.
The Foundation was chosen as the beneficiary of the third annual 24hour Shear-a-thon, held in Warrnambool last December.
Six shearers – Roger Mifsud and his sons Corey and Brody, friend and local shearer Phil Edwards, and Nhill brothers Josh and Brandon Bone, endured an epic 36-hour ‘Shear Madness’ challenge to raise the funds.
During the event close to 5000 lambs were shorn and awareness of mental health was raised to new heights.
“Let’s Talk does a wonderful job within the community and mental illness unfortunately affects so many across the district so we thought it appropriate that the proceeds of this third event go to the foundation,” Corey Mifsud said.
The six men had their bodies and minds put to the test throughout the gruelling event but were spurred on by an enthusiastic crowd, by volunteer support staff and the memories of friends lost.
Last weekend’s official handover of funds to Let’s Talk brought to almost $200,000 the total raised and donated to the community from the past three events.
“We’ve achieved what we wanted to and we’re extremely proud of that,” Corey Mifsud said.
“It’s all been for the love of our community.”
Shear Madness committee member Brooke Siegle extended the group’s appreciation to all volunteers who had helped both prior to and on the weekend of the event.
“We could not have achieved the great things we did without a band of volunteers,” she said.
“That included Joel Haberfield from Boyle’s Transport and Dave Bennie of DDR Bennie Transport, Sam McRae for all his driving and to Hodge Transport.”
Ms Siegle also paid recognition to Scott Mullins who provided sheep and to all those who volunteered behind the scenes.
“We had so many volunteers working behind our team of shearers and they were simply amazing,” she said.
“Now, we are all family. We’ve been through a lot – tears, laughter, banter and everything in between.”
Ms Siegle said nominating Lets’ Talk was a ‘no brainer.’
“We have all been touched by mental health in some form or another and we wanted to do our bit to support the Let’s Talk Foundation,” she said.
“In the lead up to the most recent shear-a-thon the team lost a close friend/family member to suicide and this pushed us all harder; we really wanted to make a difference and we hope this money can do exactly that.”
Speaking with the Warrnambool Weekly after the shear-a-thon, Let’s Talk Foundation spokesperson John Parkinson extended the organisation’s appreciation to all those involved in the event.
“As an organisation we want to extend our reach as far as we can and it’s fundraising events such as this that help us to continue to do so,” Mr Parkinson said.
“If we continue to do nothing we will continue to lose lives. Speak to family and friends and if you see any subtle changes at all don’t ignore it; a problem shared is a problem spared.”
