In last week’s Dubbo Photo News we highlighted an event that will be held this Sunday, November 16, in support of the mental health and wellbeing of our nation’s Defence Force veterans.

Local veteran and small business operator Lance Frankland and his family are stepping up to host “A BBQ To Remember” and would love to see the community come along to support the veteran community.

To be held at Crossroads Bar, in partnership with The Western Star Hotel, the event will raise funds to support ongoing development of NinGula Homestead, a purpose-built facility by Australian veteran mental health charity Swiss 8.

Based at Monkerai in the hills of Barrington Tops, NSW, NinGula Homestead will provide free services for complex-case veteran wellbeing and recovery, and run a number of retreats across the year.

Now a proprietor of Dubbo timber production business Red Earth Original, veteran Lachlan Frankland completed multiple tours of duty to Timor Leste and Afghanistan as a Corporal in the First Battalion Royal Australian Regiment. Together with wife Morgan, Mr Frankland is throwing his support behind the Swiss 8 project not only by hosting the event in Dubbo this Sunday, but by carrying out free timber milling work at NinGula Homestead.

“A BBQ To Remember” will be attended by Swiss 8 CEO Adrian Sutter, and will include a fundraising barbecue, live music, meat raffle, and a charity auction with items donated by many local businesses.

The meat raffle, which is being run Australia-wide by Swiss 8, will provide the lucky winner with several hundred dollars worth of meat each week for a year. A “Raffle To Remember” is an initiative by Swiss 8 in partnership with online meat supply business Our Cow.

“If people can’t attend the barbecue, they can still support the raffle online,” Mrs Frankland said.

The Dubbo couple are grateful for the support of local businesses for their charity auction at Sunday’s event.

“The support from local community businesses has just been absolutely amazing,” Mrs Frankland said.

“They have been more than happy to get involved to support our veterans,” she concluded.

“A BBQ To Remember” kicks off at 2pm, Sunday, November 16, at Crossroads Bar and the charity auction will take place at 5pm.

Further information about Swiss 8 and the NinGula Homestead project can be found on the organisation’s website at www.swiss8.org.

If you or someone you know needs support, please contact:

1800 011 046 Open Arms Veterans and Families Counselling, openarms.gov.au

1800 628 036 Defence Mental Health All-hours Support Line

1800 737 732 1800RESPECT, National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service, 1800respect.org.au

13 11 14 Lifeline, lifeline.org.au

1300 78 99 78 MensLine, mensline.org.au

13YARN(13 92 76), counselling support for Indigenous Australians, 13yarn.org.au

1300 659 467 Suicide Callback Service, suicidecallbackservice.org.au

1300 727 247 Standby Support After Suicide, standbysupport.com.au

1800 805 801 Thirrili’s Postvention Suicide Support, thirrili.com.au