Vol. No. Vol. 2818No. 1027
FREE PUBLICATION
A FREE PUBLICATION FROM YOUR LOCAL RADIO STATIONS 3WM AND MIXXFM
Wednesday, January 13, 2016 Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Funding cuts hurt centres
Unsuccessful Department of Social Services grant applications will see Horsham’s Christian Emergency Food Centre cut its services, and Stawell Interchurch Council Cottage defunded. Both decades-old groups relied on Federal Government funding to support people in times of hardship, providing food, vouchers, accommodation and counselling, alongside donations made by supermarkets and the community. Christian Emergency Food Centre client assessment manager Bev Miatke said the centre’s successful five-year grant application in the previous round was worth more than $82,000 last year. “It’s disappointing that the centre hasn’t been supported by the government,” she said. “There are other organisations in our area that have been successful, but none are set up to provide food like we do – Goolum Goolum, Uniting Wimmera and Salvation Army Property Trust all provide great services, but they all send their clients to us for help with food.” Mrs Miatke said the centre helped about 3080 people last year – equating to 257 a month, 13 a day – many of whom had young families, including one with nine children. “It’s not just for one day or one meal, it’s for several days, for people all over the Wimmera and beyond,” she said. “We are certainly seeing a lot more homeless people, and a lot more people who are coming in for the first time.” Mrs Miatke said last year’s $82,000 grant was turned into about $500,000 of spending for the centre’s clients. “But without the funding, some things like the financial aid, the prescriptions, the fuel for medical appointments, may have to be changed,” she said. “We can still provide food because of what we get from supermarkets and community donations, although we do spend over $1000 a week to make sure the staples are always there.” Mrs Miatke said the centre’s statistics were reported regularly to the government. Continued page 3.
IN MEMORY: Charlie Heinrich’s sisters Maggie, Lucy and Ellie will remember him with a nine-kilometre walk Out of the Shadows to remember those lost to suicide and raise money for Lifeline.
United for a cause BY BRONWYN HASTINGS
T
he memory of Horsham’s Charlie Heinrich will be honoured at an ‘Out of the Shadows’ walk next Wednesday, led by his sisters Maggie, Lucy and Ellie.
Raising awareness of mental health and money for Lifeline on September 10, World Suicide Prevention Day, the nine-kilometre event is representative of the nine lives lost to suicide each day in Australia. Maggie Heinrich said her brother’s death was unexpected. “Charlie was always smiling, and he was loving and caring,” she said. “He loved his ute, camping and exploring. He had a great group of friends and was really good at his job as an electrical apprentice. “It was very unexpected, there were no signs. We’re a tight fam-
ily who always communicates and checks in on each other. I think there was just a dark moment I think he was unable to come out of.” Ms Heinrich said she discovered Out of the Shadows on social media. “I found it just after Charlie passed away. It popped up on my Facebook, and I thought it would be a good little fundraiser, so I thought, as a community, we could see how much money we can raise,” she said. “We have raised more than $10,000 already, and we are very thankful – we originally set a target of $3000.” The event will begin at Horsham Rowing Sheds at 11am, tracking along the river, crossing past the weir and again at the Hamilton Street pedestrian bridge, before ending at the rowing shed. People are welcome to join in – they can walk, run or ride, and do
not need to register to participate. Donations are welcome. People can search for ‘Charlie Heinrich’ at www.outoftheshadowswalk.org.au. “All donations go straight to Lifeline, and if any businesses would like to get on board, we’d love to have them,” Ms Heinrich said. Ellie Heinrich encouraged people to seek out mental-health resources. “Grampians Health, where I work, has a fantastic mental-health team that includes mental-health nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists,” she said. “Grampians Community Health also has their own mental-health team. “There are also other ones, and there are some available online 24-hours – Abby Health is one, and they do confidential, bulk-billed mental health care plans, and they get you in touch with online psy-
chologists and counsellors. “It is an important thing, especially for people out in the smaller communities where they don’t have access to GPs, and they know everyone in their community, so seeking help doesn’t feel confidential.” Ms Heinrich said many workplaces also offered the Employee Assistance Program, which guides people through hardships including financial, family, trauma and grief, and addiction. “You’re not alone – reach out,” she said. • If you, or someone you know needs help, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, 13YARN on 13 92 76, MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. In an emergency, phone triple zero.
IN THIS ISSUE • Economic development body changes • School plays • Stawell jockey’s fairytale win Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
21,505 COPIES DISTRIBUTED EACH WEEK (average)