Coolamon Chaser Bins at field days intended to improve mental health

BRIGHTLY coloured chaser bins at field days will be used to raise awareness of mental health and well being in rural areas.

Bright idea: The Coolamon chaser bin with beyondblue signage.

BRIGHTLY coloured chaser bins at field days will be used to raise awareness of mental health and well being in rural areas.

Riverina farm machinery manufacturer Coolamon Chaser Bins will attend the Mingenow, Dowerin, Agquip, Newdgate, Henty and Yorke Peninsula machinery field days distributing information on behalf of national charity, beyondblue.

Coolamon Chaser Bins general manager Heath Hutcheon said the company would donate $1000 from every bin sold at the field days until September 30 to beyondblue.

The chaser bins sport brightly coloured magnets highlighting anxiety, depression and suicide under the company’s initiative, Beyond Bins.

“We recently lost one of our long-time employees to suicide — he was a person very well loved by all and we pulled together to get through the loss as a group,’’ Mr Hutcheon said.

“Now a few months have passed, we wanted to create awareness around mental health and support beyondblue at the six national field days we will be attending.’’

Coolamon Chaser Bins staff are receiving support from mental health support group Riverina Bluebell and will be addressed by a counsellor and guest speaker on August 31.

“At the time, we were all in shock as there were no signs with the person being a happy-go-lucky guy,’’ Mr Hutcheon said.

“Just because someone has a smile on their face, you can’t take it for granted they are OK. It can be just one conversation with a mate or a work colleague to uncover they need help and stop their problem from growing legs.’’

Mr Hutcheon said traditionally rural men had regarded themselves as stoic and hardworking, and were reluctant to ask for help. But he said the greater focus on mental health awareness by sporting clubs was helping.

“At the field days, we will have information packs from beyondblue and for every order taken for a chaser bin during the field days from August 16 to September 30, we will donate $1000 to the cause,’’ he said.

“The idea was driven by our employees and we were happy as a company to help.’’