Written by Sandra Lamari
It was wonderful to see so many new faces brave the humidity to join us tonight.
The new car park was a great addition and it lines up perfectly with the start of the hike. Introductions were made and we set off.
There was lots of chatter as friends caught up, people got to know each other, and talk about what upcoming hikes we were going on next as we made our way up the course gravelly side of Mount Louisa.
We stopped half way up on a rocky outcrop to watch the sun slowly going down through the clouds. It wasn’t a great day for a sunset, but we weren’t phased.
After a quick rest and the chance to take some photos, with our destination no longer than 10 minutes away😁 we set off again.
Making it to our destination point we took the opportunity to have a small snack, explore around and check out the almost 360° view from our vantage point.
Heading back down we donned our headlamps, stepped carefully so as not to slide out and made it back to our cars.
I really enjoyed tonight’s hike and I hope to see you all again soon.
Now I’d like to also talk about an important issue to me.
On our hike tonight we came across a someone who was in distress and needed help.
We were fortunate to have a professional in our group who was able to help this person out.
According to the Department of Health,1 in 5 Australians will experience a mental disorder every year. If you need help please see your GP or psychologist (you don’t need a referral).
If you’d like to find out more or talk to someone else, here are some organisations that can help:
Beyond Blue (anyone feeling depressed or anxious) — call 1300 22 4636 or chat online.
Black Dog Institute (people affected by mood disorders) — online help. www.blackdoginstitute.com.au
Lifeline (anyone having a personal crisis) — call 13 11 14 or chat online.
Townsville Hike and Explore are not only about keeping physically fit but also keeping ourselves mentally fit as well.
There are many options to complement professional treatment including but not limited to –
* exercise, especially with friends or in a group (insert hiking with the THE crew here 🙂)
*getting an adequate amount of sleep
*eating fresh and healthy foods
*Yoga and meditation (but not all types)
*massage
*chatting with a friend
*creating small goals and working towards them
We were lucky to have a professional in our group tonight but if you are interested in learning some skills to be able to help someone who may be in need you can do a Mental Health First Aid Certificate at many places including MHFA.
Take care
Sandra
