Black Dog Ride 2014 visited Broken Hill to raise awareness of depression

Fundraiser
The Black Dog Ride is an annual motorbike ride, designed to raise awareness of depression, in an effort to stop suicide and help people deal with depression.

Black Dog Ride founder Steve Andrews started the event in 2009 after his best mate Jack Michael's wife Anna committed suicide. Steve's own mother had also committed suicide.

Suicide Call Back Service
is 1300 659 467

"At the wake of Anna Michael, Steve felt the need to raise community awareness of depression, to create a national conversation so that people living with mental ill health feel able to talk about and seek help."

The above is an excerpt from Steve's website www.blackdogride.com.au under the about section -

http://www.blackdogride.com.au/view/about

On Steve's first solo ride around Australia in 2009 (now many riders make the trip), he took a black soft toy dog named Winston.

Winston was named after former UK Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965) who first used the term 'black dog' to describe his own depression, many years ago.

Steve raised $34,000 on that first ride, and the money was used to support the 'Suicide Call Back Service'.

In brief, the service provides immediate telephone counselling and support in a crisis.

Suicide Call Back Service's website is www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/ where you can find out more information about this very important service.

The number for Suicide Call Back Service is 1300 659 467. This is a 24/7 service, and has an online facility as well.

As groups of motorcyclists travel around Australia, and around various states in state rides as well, the Black Dog Ride, NSW group ride visited Broken Hill last week on 30-31 July 2014.

... Suicide Call Back Service
is a 24/7 service ...

The riders took over the sign of 'The Black Lion' Inn and renamed it 'The Black Dog' Inn.

Here's their tweet about it -

Broken Hill renamed their pub for #BlackDogRide! Our riders are getting message across, talk about the black dog! pic.twitter.com/4BKG1A3uDu
— Black Dog Ride (@blackdogride) August 1, 2014

Another depression and anxiety mental health service, which also assists people in a mental health crisis is Beyond Blue - www.beyondblue.org.au . Their 24 hour help line is 1300 22 4636.

Safe riding, cheers, Jane Deany

Broken Hill Red Cross film fundraiser 'Now You See Me' 11 August

Now You See Me Movie
promotional poster from wikipedia.org

Community Event
Red Cross extraordinary Premiere Fundraiser is on this Sunday 11 August 2013 at 2pm. 

The film is "Now You See Me" (rated M) and is a French/American movie which has been variously described as a  caper/thriller and comedy/action film. There's an international cast including Isla Fisher, Morgan Freeman, Jesse Eisenberg, Dave Franco, Woody Harrelson, Michael Caine, Melanie Laurent and Mark Ruffalo.

Tickets are $13.50 and include nibbles and refreshments.

There will be a door prize raffle as well.

The venue is Broken Hill's 'Silver City Cinema', 41 Oxide Street, just off Argent Street.

The 'Silver City Cinema' has been the scene of many movie fundraisers. I've been to a couple over the years and they're a lot of fun, great value and always help a fantastic cause.

Enjoy, cheers, Jane D

Broken Hill fundraiser for Cancer Council at Art Confessions

Full Circle
by Tanya Reeves
image courtesy of artist

Art Scene
Community Event
Tonight Tanya Reeves of 'Art Confessions' art gallery is hosting an "Art, Wine and Cheese" fundraising event for the Cancer Council. Entry is by gold coin donation and there will be door prizes.

There was an article on the front page of the Barrier Daily Truth today about the special event.

Tanya is keen to hold charity fund raisers as she enjoys giving back to the community and has already held another fundraiser for 'Beyond Blue' for Mother's Day.

A member of Tanya's best friend's family died of cancer "too young", and Tanya's having the fundraiser with them in mind.

Tanya opened her new art gallery "Art Confessions" in March this year. Her artwork is very colourful, bright and distinctive. The image at left, one I picked at random from Tanya's website because I liked it, has a story to tell. She painted the piece for the Country Energy art competition, to display the diversity of the Australian outback.

Tonight's event is a great opportunity to have a look at some of her work. You can also check it out online at her gallery's website www.artconfessions.com .

Event details -

Art Confessions 313A Argent Street, Broken Hill

Friday 2 August 2013, 6 pm - 10 pm.

Entry by gold coin donation.

You can follow www.ilovebrokenhill.com tweets at @ilovebrokenhill

This is one of Tanya's tweets about the event -

My Art, Wine and Cheese Open Night (TONIGHT PEOPLE!) made front page of the newspaper today =) PS: Im NOT the... http://t.co/aAMkoA64Ad
— Art Confessions (@ArtConfessions) August 2, 2013

The Cancer Council Australia's big annual fundraising event "Daffodil Day" is coming up on -

23 August, 2013 see more details at the Cancer Council's website www.cancer.org.au .

Do come along tonight to support this fundraising effort, it's also a nice way to end the working week.

I wish I could be there, but I'm in Melbourne.

Enjoy, cheers, Jane

Lifeline Broken Hill's annual art exhibition opens tonight 28 June 2013

GeoCentre courtesy VisitNSW.com

Art Scene
Lifeline is holding it's annual Lifeline Broken Hill fund raising art exhibition which opens tonight 28 June at 7pm  and will run until 14 July 2013.

The opening night and exhibition are being held at the Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum also known as the GeoCentre.

There is a raffle with three paintings as prizes.  The paintings have kindly been donated by Joan Morris - Craker, Alfreda Gilby, and Trudy Forrest.

There will also be a silent auction.

There are 130 works for sale by 42 artists and prices range between $50 and $1,495.

Address:     2 Bromide Street, Corner Silver City Highway (Crystal Street), Broken Hill

The centre is open 1 - 5 pm Saturday and Sunday, 10 am - 5 pm Monday to Friday

Entry to the exhibition is by donation.

'Mining Scene from th Hill' mixed media on paper
by Karrie Lannstrom. Image from Lifeline Broken Hill
exhibition, supplied by artist. Image sold opening night.

It is a very worthwhile cause so do try and go along and support the wonderful work of Lifeline.  This year, as in other years, there will be some great art.  I went to the exhibition several years ago and was lucky enough to attend the opening night which was a lot of fun.

Queries to Lifeline Broken Hill's office - telephone (08) 8087 7525.

You can also donate to Lifeline directly from their website www.lifeline.org.au.

Please note you can call Lifeline for crisis support 24/7 on 13 11 14.

Cheers, Jane D

Lifeline Broken Hill’s annual art exhibition 30 June – 15 July 2012

GeoCentre photo from VISITNSW.COM

Art Scene

Lifeline Broken Hill’s annual fund raising art exhibition is on again.  The opening night was earlier this evening at the Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum also known as the GeoCentre.

Address:         2 Bromide Street, Corner Silver City Highway aka Crystal Street, Broken Hill

The centre is open 1 pm – 5 pm Saturday and Sunday and 10 am – 5 pm Monday to Friday

Entry is by gold coin donation.

The catalogue lists 50 artists and 139 exhibits and prices range from $55 to $3,000.  There is a range of media used.  The artists pay an $8 hanging fee and receive 25% of whatever they sell according to Trevor Odgers the event organiser.

It is definitely a worthwhile cause so do try and go along and support the wonderful work of Lifeline.  I went to the exhibition several years ago.  I was actually lucky enough to attend on the opening night which was a lot of fun and there was some great art there.

Call 13 11 14 if you need Lifeline's crisis assistance.

Cheers, Jane D

Lifeline's Annual Fair today 28 April 2012 - Sturt Park

Community day/event

The Broken Hill Lifeline is having their annual fete/fair today.

Time:     10 am to 2 pm

Venue:  Sturt Park, corner Sulphide and Wolfram Streets, Broken Hill.

Do try and go along and support this very worthwhile fund raising event.

Lifeline – www.lifeline.org.au "Lifeline connects people with care by providing services in Suicide Prevention, Crisis Support and Mental Health Support".

Call 13 11 14 the service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Stay well, Jane D