Just a Farmer screening a success
Published on 12 September 2024
Gannawarra Shire Council and Mallee Family Care united on Sunday, 8 September for the successful screening of the renowned Australian movie, Just a Farmer.
Around 170 people from across the region attended the event, held at the Kerang Memorial Hall, as part of Council’s ongoing efforts to provide opportunities for residents to connect as part of the Gannawarra flood recovery program.
“Council is pleased to have worked with Mallee Family Care to screen Just a Farmer, which explores the complexities of mental health struggles in rural Australia and the importance of continuing to have conversations across the community and encouraging people to reach out for help when needed,” Council Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Rollinson said.
“The event featured a strong mental health and suicide prevention message that resonated with the audience, particularly our local farmers and others with farming connections.
“With such a broad cross section of the community in attendance there was a good mix of message and comedy in the movie to lighten the tears and create laughter across the audience.”
Southwest Victorian farmer, Leila McDougall, who wrote, produced and starred in the movie, and fellow co-star, Damian Walshe-Howling were in attendance, and joined team members from Northern District Community Health, Rural Financial Counselling Service, and Quambatook farmer, Brett Hosking for a question-and-answer session after the screening that addressed the mental health and wellbeing themes explored in the movie.
“The question-and-answer session enabled audience members to discuss with Leila, Damian, service representatives and a local farmer with lived experience the themes Just a Farmer addressed in an open and safe environment,” Mr Rollinson said.
“Many of those who attended commented afterwards that it was a great afternoon and the messaging from the panel was very valuable. Damian’s openness about his own mental health struggles was brave to share in such a public space, but heartwarming.”
The Just a Farmer screening was made possible thanks to Gannawarra Community Resilience Committee and supported by Victorian and Commonwealth Governments under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) as part of the Gannawarra Community Flood Recovery Program.
For mental health support, community members are encouraged to talk to their GP, contact Northern District Community Health on (03) 5451 0200, the National Lifeline service on 13 11 14, or other trusted mental health provider. Mallee Family Care continues to provide support to Gannawarra residents impacted by the flood events and can be contacted on (03) 5032 4479.
ABOVE: Just a Farmer writer, producer and star, Leila McDougall (left) answered questions following the screening of the movie at the Kerang Memorial Hall on 8 September 2024.