Beverley McArthur MP
Member for Western Victoria Region
Media Statement
‘THOSE LEFT BEHIND’
Suicide is a tragedy of great proportion but it is even a greater tragedy for ‘those left behind’.
The Member for Western Victoria Region, Bev McArthur used a Member’s Statement in the Parliament to air this issue and support Donna Bowman in her efforts to raise $1m for the Victoria Police Psychology Unit to ‘improve resources for clinicians supporting police members and their families struggling with mental health issues’.
Donna lost her beloved husband, Tony who sadly took his own life on their Elaine property last March.
Mrs McArthur attended a fundraising event at ‘Truffleduck’ in Geelong recently where Donna’s campaign was launched.
Donna intends to walk 3,000km around Victoria to raise awareness and funds for mental health and for those ‘left behind’ after the suicide of a friend or loved one.
Donna’s walk commenced from the Geelong Police Station on 18 March 2019 and she will walk through various towns in Western Victoria Region including Ballarat, Cressy, Colac, Camperdown, Warrnambool, Port Fairy, Portland, Heywood, Hamilton, Balmoral, Horsham with an estimated conclusion date in Geelong on 17 May 2019.
Mrs McArthur said she was honoured to attend the event and while expressing her sincere condolences to all those families ‘left behind’, she wished Donna every success in her awareness efforts on the walk.
20 March 2019