A MAN based at Finley, in New South Wales, is on a mission to connect people within twenty-three towns in two states.
Scott Vesty created a Facebook group called Around Mates and gathered over 400 members in its first week.
“All my life I’ve been living with anxiety and depression,” said he said. “For 17 years I kept it hidden, my parents, my family, my friends didn’t know, and I struggled with that alone.
“Just going through dark times and never feeling like I really had anyone to talk to, to where I am now, in a good place.”
Although Mr Vesty said it’s a lot about supporting people’s mental health, that’s not the whole purpose of Around Mates.
“I just want to help people because I know there are many people out there doing it tough in silence,” he said. “They don’t feel they have anyone to talk to.
“The mental health side of it is a big part of it, but there’s also people that are new to the area or don’t have a lot of friends and want to grow their circle, that sort of stuff.”
As part of the group, Mr Vesty said he intends to hold a barbecue every two weeks at different towns.
“I’ll be going everywhere from Bendigo, Shepparton, Swan Hill, Echuca, all over that way, to places here like Griffith and Leeton,” he said.
“The response is just incredible, it’s all been positive.”
He said he has asked for sponsors to purchase food and drinks for the events and Tweed Southerland First National Real Estate has agreed to sponsor the Bendigo Around Mates events.
Jason Priestley from Tweed Southerland said the company likes to give back to the community where it can.
“We like to spread our wings with all sorts of charities, and mental health is obviously one of those amongst other charities that we do support,” he said.
“The connection through Scott just enabled us to have the opportunity to say yeah we’d love to get on board.”
Although no date or location is set in stone, the first Bendigo event will most likely be held in June or July, at the barbecue area at Lake Weeroona.