RFDS backs Big Day Out in Cooktown

By SARAH MARTIN

THE Cooktown-based Royal Flying Doctor Service mental health team will lead attendees in a mindfulness workshop and share important information about stress at the inaugural Heart-Mind Wellness Big Day Out this month.

RFDS mental health clinician and registered psychologist Jess Brotherhood said the event provided an invaluable opportunity to connect with the community and fellow service providers.

“Being able to go to the Big Day Out we can help break down barriers by introducing our services and ourselves as clinicians, and also from a stakeholder perspective there are so many services around to support people, so the networking will be really good,” she said.

Ms Brotherhood and her fellow mental health workers are based in Cooktown and service locals as well as the communities of Laura and Wujal Wujal, working closely with other providers such as Queensland Health and

Apunipima Cape York Health Council.

“We do mental health intervention such as counselling and therapy,” she said.

“We work with people from the age of 12 and up, and take referrals from anywhere – we get referrals from other services, self-referrals, people wave us down in the shops or on the street and make a booking; the RFDS mental health service on the Cape is also completely free.”

Coordinated by South Cape York Catchments Group, the free expo-style event, from 2pm to 8pm on February 22, will fill the Cooktown PCYC with information booths, workshop stations, food and live music.

SCYC work skills program coordinator Sigal Ramon said the Big Day Out aimed to connect people and communities across the region with the many mental health, wellbeing and community services.

“It will be a fun, positive, entertaining day,” she said.

Email sigal@scyc.com.au for more information.

Councillor models for art class

FROM budding artists to youngsters wanting to learn, all comers are encouraged to the Cooktown Art Society’s drawing classes, which began on the weekend. Supported by Cook Shire Council’s community grants program, the three-hour sessions at the Elizabeth Guzsely Gallery cost just $20, with all materials supplied.

Cooktown Art Society president Jane Dennis said drawing was the basis of any artform.

“We want to get everyone drawing, and then they can apply those skills to any medium they like,” she said.

Councillor John Dessmann and art teacher Jen Hall were the life models for attendees at the first drawing classes on the weekend, and Jean Stephan will sit for the next classes on Monday and Tuesday, February 20 and 21 from 6pm to 9pm.

Ms Dennis said the classes would be ongoing.

“We’re also inviting local identities to sit as models,” she said. Contact Cooktown Art on Facebook to register, or phone Ms Dennis on 0400 617 467.