One Man’s Mission To Connect The Burdekin

Last year, in the span of just a month, Ayr resident Norman Bethell lost two of his close friends to suicide. Shaken, he made it his mission to ensure no one else would have to suffer in silence. Read on page 6 Building Bonds On The Greens Continued from cover Norman Bethell was hit hard in the middle of last year. After losing two friends to suicide within the span of a month, the 78-year-old saw firsthand the toll loneliness and mental health struggles can take, and felt compelled to act. That action became ‘Funday Tuesdays’. Coined and hosted by Bethell at the Home Hill Community Sports Club, Funday Tuesdays are a weekly community gathering aimed at tackling loneliness and supporting mental wellbeing. "It's so that someone doesn't do what happened to my friends," Bethell said. “I thought, ‘No one else normally is going to [start a group], so just get up and stand up on your own—do something about it.’” The first Funday Tuesday meeting, held earlier this year, saw just one person attend. While many called it a failure, Bethell saw a silver lining. “One was better than none!” he said. Now, each event sees up to 20 people connect over lawn bowls and other activities, devoid of stipulations. “There's no, ‘You got to do this’ or ‘You got to do that’—there're no rules. It's a fun day, and when you have a fun day, you do whatever you want to do,” Bethell said. “It’s all about community. It’s for people who would usually rather walk past each other than say hello, and breaking down that barrier down—meeting somebody new so they don't feel go back home and feel so lonely.” That impact has been felt by regular attendees, who say Funday Tuesdays offer a haven of connection rather than merely a meeting point. “I enjoy the people, and it’s good to get to know something that is different,” she said. “I’m mostly with my group, but the more that we're together, the more like family we become." Bethell encourages anyone to drop by and see what Funday Tuesdays are all about. "Don't be shy. If you feel like you're a bit on your own, walk in the gate and visit. Be brave and make the first step, because only you can do it. I can’t do it for you,” Bethell said. The group meets every Tuesday morning at 10am at the Home Hill Community Sports Club. For more information, contact Norm on 0455 994 775. CAPTIONS: 1—Each event sees up to 20 people connect over lawn bowls and other activities. Photo credit: Jacob Casha 2— The group meets every Tuesday morning at 10am at the Home Hill Community Sports Club. Photo supplied