Liam McNally
Smart Body and Put Your Hand Up Australia teamed up to deliver a free mental health and wellbeing session at Melton Willows Supported Living Centre on Thursday, April 28.
Smart Body is an organisation that assists with a broad range of mental and physical training from sports professionals to NDIS participants which chief executive Barry O’Keefe was inspired to launch after a “transformative” experience volunteering with Reclink Australia, and Put Your Hand Up Australia is a program recently founded by former AFL player Mark Eustice that draws on lived experiences to give free talks to start conversations around mental health and addiction.
At the Thursday session Mr O’Keefe, Mr Eustice, and Gracie the puppy joined Willows residents with footy colours donned and meat-pies in hand to hear a presentation before a q and a, photo sessions, a raffle draw, and after refreshments the group got active with footy activities and a boxing class.
Attendees were also assisted in setting up ongoing courses around substance abuse, rehabilitation and trauma recovery.
Mr Eustice said it was “good just being there and giving support… I was really quite humbled to get to go along.”
“I want to help people out there with no one to talk to, I’m really passionate about it,” he said.
Mr O’Keefe said it was “fantastic” seeing the faces of participants “light up” when an AFL star entered the room.
“They just loved to have a footballer along and have a talk with them about the good times and the bad times,” he said.
“I get a thrill out of helping people and seeing their improvement… It’s fulfilling getting to help disadvantaged people that really need it,” he said.
