“By spreading the paint and spreading the message that ‘it’s ok to not be ok’, we can help break down the stigma that’s still largely attached to mental health,” Club Manager Dave Renehan said.
“We’ve painted the tree on the club’s boundary with Milperra Road and the club is very excited to get behind this initiative since we all need to do more to encourage the community to get their feelings out,” Dave said.
With over 150 trees now painted blue, the project was inspired by a story that was told at Jayden Whyte’s funeral on November 23, 2019.
Jayden painted a tree blue one night on his family farm in 2014, after sneaking out, wondering just how long it would be before anyone noticed the deep blue tree on the horizon.
Jayden was close with family and friends, highly intelligent and driven.
Unfortunately, loved ones weren’t aware of the extent of his mental health issues and he had presented twice to hospital on the day he died.
“Jayden was overlooked in an overwhelmed system which is not made for modern society’s mental health issues,” a family spokesperson said.
“With this project, we hope to raise awareness but also become a part of the change to help better inform our health system of where people are being let down.”
For more, go to bluetreeproject.com.au
Club paints dead tree ‘blue’ to raise awareness
REMINDING members to speak up when battling mental health concerns, Bankstown Golf Club staff have painted a dead tree ‘blue’ in ecological paint “to keep the birds happy” as part of their commitment to The Blue Tree Project.
