Community House’s Bern is ‘one of our own’

“One of the joys (of the club) is the commitment to community groups,” Kyabram Club board member Mark Schumann said.

“We wanted to help after the floods, but we didn’t know how.”

The business dug deep, providing funding to Rochester Community House to be used for wellbeing support.

“The Ky Club came across and had a meeting and said, ‘what can we do to support you and your community?’,” Rochester Community House manager Amanda Logie said.

“At that time there was no mental health support on the ground.

“We know that quite often organisations and businesses like to have something quite tangible ... that physical thing that they can see that’s making a difference.

“But we said ‘this is really what’s needed in our community at the moment’.”

Being a hub for residents post-floods, the Rochester Community House team saw first-hand the need for mental health services.

With the funding provided by the Ky Club, it established a wellbeing program, bringing the skills of counsellor Bern Wright.

“I went down to Bendigo and met with Bern,” Ms Logie said.

“We just had a conversation and I had a really good feeling with Bern because she said, ‘I’m very mindful of the fact that I’m a stranger walking into a very traumatised community’.

“It’s like she’s been in this community forever, she’s just got an amazing way with people.

“The community just really embraced her as one of our own.”

The Rochester Community House wellbeing program went from strength-to-strength, with consistent care and Bern’s nature two key factors in its success.

“Part of the success of the program ... it’s that continuity,” Ms Logie said.

“People don’t have to retell their story all the time to different people.

“That, coupled with Bern herself as the person that she is, really made it a successful program.”

RCH approached the Ky Club again seeking additional funding to support Bern’s role at the organisation.

The club was happy to continue the partnership, also inviting Ms Logie to speak about the impact of the wellbeing program at its annual meeting.

She was grateful to tell the board and community members about the benefits of the Ky Club’s sponsorship.

“Quite often you don’t always hear about the difference that you are making, especially when it’s such a big disaster,” Ms Logie said.

“There’s been donations over such a broad area, so to actually get that feedback first-hand is really nice.”

RCH is hoping to continue the partnership into the future so that it can provide a high level of support to the community.

Ms Logie is very grateful for the funding delivered by the Ky Club.

“I am mindful that they also have a community to support,” she said.

“But certainly, we would love to keep some sort of partnership and engagement happening moving forward.

“We are just so thankful for the support that they have given us because it’s really cemented the program.”

Ms Wright echoed these sentiments, expressing her gratitude to the club for its support of the program.

“Thanks to the Kyabram Club ... to enable me to be here is amazing,” she said.

This week is Neighbourhood House Week, with Rochester Community House jumping on board with a range of activities. Among them is a meet-and-greet with Ms Wright.

Tuesday, May 13, at 10.30am is a free cuppa and cake, along with the regularly scheduled foodshare from 11am to noon.

Wednesday, May 14, is come and try crochet and Rochester Playgroup, both from 10am.

Thursday, May 15, from 11am to noon is a meet-and-greet session with Ms Wright.

Friday, May 16, is the Rochester Men’s Shed women’s open day from 9am to 1pm, as well as a come and try pickleball at 2pm.

To learn more about Rochester Community House, head to communityhouse.org.au