Three years after Cherie Stitt started the event in Trundle, it’s hitting the road.

Organisers are urging all rural residents to make time to be part of it, here’s their Q and A on the day.

What is it? A brain and body workshop for rural men and women. 

Who should go? Anyone living within a rural community who would like to hear and know more about living an even better life. 

Who will be speaking? We have a cracking line up of guest speakers, including Shanna Whan (Northern NSW) a former alchoholic speaking about the rural booze culture (see more on Shanna below); Tristan Medcalfe (Canberra) Beyond Blue volunteer speaking about depression; Ginny Stephens (Southern NSW) Active Farmers Coordinator speaking about improving physical health in the bush; Local GPs, Pilates sessions, Community Health specialists, RAMHP representatives. 

When is it on? Trundle is on Thursday, February 22 (9am start) and Bedgerabong/ Corinella is on Friday, February 23 (9am start).

Where is it? The Trundle Golfie and the Bedgerabong Hall (we’ll alternate between Bedgerabong and Corinella each year).

How much does it cost? It’s completely free.

What should I wear? Something comfy because you might get involved in a few physical activities! 

Will we be fed? Absolutely! Local caterers will be taking care of delicious and nutritious food. 

What about kids? It's not all that kid friendly. If you can't find any babysitting, then by all means bring them (and maybe a good book!) 

How long is it? We're allowing three hours - but the conversations always seem to be so magic on these days that you might stay longer. 

Why do I need to RSVP? So we know how much food to prepare! 

Who is behind it? There's a team of three this year - Cherie Stitt, Melissa Brown and Danika McDonald.

Thanks to sponsors: Ag n Vet Trundle, Goodwin Stevenson Insurance, Plevna Merinos, Trundle Services and Citizens Club, Kevin Miller Lennon Whitty and Co, Forbes Livestock, Rabobank, Bill Stitt Building, Flannery’s Pharmacy and many others.  

RSVP through eventbrite.com.au – search Bedgerabong to find the event. 

Or please phone Melissa Brown 0437 134 087, Cherie Stitt on 0411 057 745 or Danika McDonald on 0439 808 019.

Shanna Whan is a speaker, blogger, and rural health ambassador from Narrabri working to tackle the complex issue of alcohol abuse and the ‘casual alcoholism’ epidemic across rural Australia.

This is a deeply personal passion as she’s a fully-recovered survivor of late-stage alcoholism who made a promise to herself that if she survived, she’d take this message of hope to other rural and isolated community members just like her.  

Her lived experience and willingness to share with humour and candour has given the rural health sector and communities unprecedented insight into the issue.

Shanna’s making a big impact both regionally and nationally thanks to a response from her Australia-wide agricultural network and a recent appearance on SBS Insight.

She said she’s taken on the rural health ambassador tag because unhealthy relationships with alcohol affect far more people than we realise.

‘’This is something impacting farmers, family members, parents, friends, CEOs and students and all the people integral to our communities. This isn’t about the unfortunates who are homeless or in the gutter. It’s far more insidious and far-reaching than that.’’

‘’Talking about our relationships with alcohol is vital but often difficult in a small town environment.

‘’I want to lead the charge to smash the fierce stigmas that surround our dialogue around alcohol and really open the lines of communication to support people.

‘’Simple discussion, connection, and open peer-to-peer dialogue is actually saving lives,’’ Shanna said.

She’s seen this time and time again.

By integrating a holistic health and wellness approach, she’s also successfully reaching her peers: the perceived “high-functioning” community members who are battling escalating problem drinking, but don’t quite know where to start to make changes or even talk about it.

“Our rural communities are often a place where big drinkers are celebrated, patted on the back for their wild stories and are encouraged to have another,” Shanna said. 

“We are a nation famous for celebrating “a well-earned thirst” and “wine time” for all occasions.

“All this continues at break-neck speed from generation to generation, despite a tangible and inexorable link between sustained alcohol abuse and diseases like cancer, depression and suicide.

“And those of us in remote and rural Australia are most at risk.

“It’s time we work together to bring this massive issue into the open with the weight it deserves.”

Shanna’s vision is simply to develop and launch a web-based platform that enables rural people to “virtually” gather, chat, learn, share and get the support they need – using screen names or being themselves.

From simple chats about considering their relationship with alcohol, to giving suggestions to those in serious trouble; members would have access to webinars, live meetings, blogs and facts.

She’d also include links to alcohol-related therapies, recovery groups, treatment centres, etc.

“The bush has an intense relationship with booze and for many of us it’s not a healthy one,” Shanna said.

“It’s time we changed how we educate people, and how we prevent alcohol-related deaths.

“I’m here to start that conversation. We are not anonymous people out here. And we need to understand that the opposite of addiction is connection.  And connection and community is what rural communities do best.”