THE Blue Tree is making a positive influence on community wellbeing across the Loddon.
That’s the view of shire community wellbeing director Wendy Gladman as the mobile tree continues to pop up at local events.
It is one of 1439 blue trees around the world in a movement founded in 2019 after the tragic loss to suicide of a young regional West Australian who had painted one of the trees on his family farm blue.
Mrs Gladman said that as Loddon Shire was a ‘community of communities’ without a central hub, it was decided to develop a mobile tree for maximum impact that could take the message to all those communities.
Council, through the Loddon Healthy Minds Network, arranged for the construction of the tree, with funding provided through the Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit.
“We wanted something that made sense for our shire, and we knew that it would need to be different from what others have done,” Mrs Gladman said.
“The Blue Tree, trailer and resources can be hired from council for free by anyone seeking to raise awareness about mental health and wellbeing,” Mrs Gladman said.