PILBARA TOWNS PREPARE FOR ROWAN'S WALK AND BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION

Community members gathered for the 2021 Rowan’s Walk. Credit: Ngaarda Media.

The sixth annual Rowan’s Walk to raise awareness for suicide prevention will be held next month in Pilbara towns including Hedland, Newman and Karratha.

Hedland local Rowan Dann started the initiative six years ago as a teenager after losing a family member to suicide.

“It's a walk that comes together to honour all those precious lives that have been lost to suicide and to remember,” Rowan’s mother Ravena Maher told Ngaarda Media.

“It's about walking together to give back hope to those suffering from mental health issues and suicidal ideation.

“It's also to empower one another to reach out if there are factors in your life that are taking you to that dark place.”

On 11 August, Rowan’s Walk will begin at 6 am at Redbank Bridge in Port Hedland, and finish at the JD Hardie Community Hub in South Hedland.

For the second time, the Hedland walk will be followed by a basketball tournament.

Last year, teams gathered from across the Pilbara and Kimberley. Hedland won the Men’s competition and Bidyadanga the Women’s.

Ms Maher said the purpose of the basketball tournament was: “for young and old to come together and battle it out on the courts to remember all those fallen ones lost to suicide, but also to highlight the benefits physical activities can have on a person's mental health.”

Registrations are now open for basketball teams, and event organisers are also seeking umpires and scorekeepers.

This year, events will also be held in Karratha and Newman on 11 August.

Organisers from Tom Price and Paraburdoo are planning a combined walk on 12 August, after holding separate events last year.

Listen to an interview with Ravena Maher to learn more: