The wider Nebo community will gather for a weekend of cricket-inspired family fun tomorrow, Saturday, February 4, with a much more important message at the heart of the event.
Six Ducks & a Yarn is a community cricket event providing a day of family fun, entertainment and cricket while raising awareness and funds for mental health throughout the community.
“It’s a charity cricket match to get the community, the rural community, the mining community, businesses, just to reconnect and have a good family day but also to let people know they’re not alone, we’re all here to help one way or another,” said event organiser and Nebo Medical Action Group President Joy Cooper.
The day will feature Super 8 style cricket matches with 10 teams from Nebo, Mackay, Coppabella and Glenden registered.
Cricket legend Michael Kasprowicz will be having a game as well as presenting a guest speech and Bek Andrews and Mango Junction will be partying through the evening with live entertainment.
There are prizes for the best dressed team and best team name on offer plus free kids entertainment including dodgem cars, a water slide and cricket activities provided by Mackay Whitsunday Cricket.
Free camping is also available for those hoping to make a weekend out of the event.
The community has jumped on board with the event, with local groups providing food and drink stalls including Nebo/Sarina Range CWA, Nebo Pony Club, St Lawrence/Nebo Polocrosse Club and Nebo Bushman’s Carnival Committee.
“We’ll also have donation buckets around the area so that we can donate to a mental health charity who can come and help services to our community,” said Ms Cooper.
“It’s just a good weekend for everyone to have fun and get involved.
“Let’s start the year off on a good note.”
The event has been organised by the community with the assistance of Greater Whitsunday Communities, Isaac Regional Council, Queensland Cricket and the Queensland Government through their Queensland Health TRACC program funding.
As part of the funding provided by the TRACC Program, The Nebo Medical Action Group have been able to implement three mental health projects, with Six Ducks & A Yarn being the first.
The second project is the Cowboys Resilience Program, starting in term one, with schools from Nebo, Glenden, Coppabella, Valkyrie and Clarke Creek getting involved.
The Resilience Project delivers emotionally engaging programs to schools providing practical, evidence-based, positive strategies to build resilience and happiness through a combination of presentations, wellbeing journals, school curriculum, teacher diaries and their app.
The third project will be a series of mental health first aid courses in the region, which has already gotten underway with 10 people attending a class in Glenden last year.
“They’re the people that we can call upon to go sit with people and try and put them on the right path or just someone to sit down and have a cup of coffee with,” said Ms Cooper.
A class will be held in Nebo later this year with a date to be announced, aiming to raise awareness and support for mental health in the rural community.
“We all do personally, no matter who we are, have times where we feel lost and we just don’t know where to turn to,” said Ms Cooper.
“If we can put it out there that these are the people that can help you and get those services to come to Nebo, so they feel comfortable in their own community, that’s even better.
Mental health agencies will be present at Six Ducks & a yarn, providing information to attendees on where they can seek support.
“Our main aim is to break the stigma of mental health because it is a serious medical condition but also, we just want people to come and have fun, bring your chairs, be sun safe, there is also free camping available as well … we don’t want people to be on the road late at night,” said Ms Cooper.
WHAT: Six Ducks & a Yarn Community Family Fun Day
WHERE: Nebo Showgrounds
WHEN: Saturday, February 4, gates open at 1:00pm
This is a free community event.
Image: Michael Kasprowicz, who played cricket for Queensland and Australia, is the special guest at Six Ducks & a Yarn, a day of cricket, family fun and mental health awareness
