Not everyone has heard of sHedway, a fairly new charitable organization that is focused on positive mental health and suicide prevention for the shearing industry.
So…where do the golfers come into the story?
Simple! Golfers, shearers and others involved in the shearing industry will take to the Glen Innes Golf Club on Saturday December 14 to not only take up a challenge but also to raise funds for sHedway in a 3- person Ambrose event.
The event is being supported not only by the Golf Club but also businesses such as New England Toyota, Velquip and Virbac, Grafton Firearms, Harvey Norman, Glen Innes Services Club, TSG, Bruce Family Butchery, Deepwater Brewing and Furnished in Glen.
Shearers are possibly not best known for their fashionable clothing, but competitors on the day will be competing for the fashionista prize which is up for grabs for the best dressed team of three.
The local co-ordinator for the Glen Innes Beardy Shears is both shearer and golfer Richard Sturtridge, whose father, Trevor, is well known in Glen Innes and around district sheds.
Other locals also involved are Ross Mercer and Brian Lewis.
Planning started some four months ago and the reward has been a great response, with golfers/shearers known to be travelling from Guyra, Inverell, Barraba and other centres.
Proceeds from the day will go primarily to sHedway and also to the shearing competition at the Glen Innes Show in February.
Local shearers had their interest heightened when a mate was lost on Boxing Day last year and left behind a partner and two girls.
The local shearers who are members of the Beardy Waters sHedway group also raise money by shearing the sheep of the Glen Innes Agricultural Research Station.
Members of sHedway include not only shearers but also wool handlers, contractors and mental health professionals.
Their aim is to make it OK to talk about mental health in the sheds and throughout the industry.
They conduct workshops in mental health, first aid and suicide awareness, providing not only awareness, but also a link between shed staff, families and counselling services.
Richard Sturtridge told Glen Innes News “the word is out and we expect shearers from a number of areas to travel to Glen and support us”.
Pictured is Barraba shearer Zac Mallise who is a regular competitor at the Glen Innes Show and who will be travelling here for the December 14 Golf Day
If you are struggling, please contact Lifeline anytime, 24 hours a day, on 13 11 14
