Caroline Hammat
Millicent’s water tower will soon take on a different look for an evening as the structure is bathed in blue light on Sunday, April 7.
The initiative is designed to raise awareness for mental health and a collaboration between the Wattle Range Suicide Prevention Network (WRSPN), Vestas Iberdrola Australia, SA Water and the Millicent and District Hospital (MDH).
People are encouraged to bring along a rug to sit on from 6pm and watch the tower light up as the sun sets and it is hoped a coffee van and food will be available.
Vesta’s staff have previously supported mental health initiatives in the region by lighting a wind turbine blue on several occasions; this time they are using their equipment and time to light the water tower instead.
SA Water will provide power for the lighting equipment and staff to help on the night.
Wattle Range Council mayor Des Noll is also a member of the WRSPN and said: “Lighting the tower blue is about having a conversation with our community in relation to suicide prevention and mental health. It’s making our community aware of a very real issue.“
Earlier in the day, members of the WRSPN, hospital staff and their families will join forces to paint a large tree trunk laying on the hospital grounds.
The tree will become the second painted tree within Millicent, added to the national Blue Tree Project.
In February last yea,r members of the WRSPN group used tins of bright blue paint to paint the trunk of a large gum tree at the Williams Road end of the Domain Parklands.
The Blue Tree Project originally started as a way to commemorate the loss of a young Western Australian man to suicide in 2018.
Painting the dead trees bright blue has seen the project grow into a charity which helps change the way people talk about mental health.
There have now been 1,138 trees from across the world registered with the project since its inception in 2018.
Lifeline 13 11 14
BeyondBlue 1300 22 4636
