A masquerade ball that started from a passion for suicide prevention has seen $9400 raised for Holyoak Northam to help support loved ones who have been left behind and to provide suicide prevention training.
Rosie McCartney has spent the last year living in Beverly.
Originally from Wales the 23-year-old will be leaving the Wheatbelt later this month to head home, but it is evident that she has left her mark on the people she has met during her time here.
Miss McCartney, an up-and-coming songwriter released a song online a month ago.
She said the song inspired her to create, organise an host a Wheatbelt masquerade ball to raise awareness for suicide prevention in the Wheatbelt community.
“This community that has been my family for the last year, and I wanted to give back,” Miss McCartney said.
“I didn't realise that events of this scale usually take a good few months of preperation and a committee of people, not six weeks and one backpacker with no event management experience or contacts in the mental health world.
“I was very fortunate to have very supportive friends that encouraged me, tried to support me where possible and helped share my event on social media.
“When I put the song online it was 12 hours before ABC MidWest and Wheatbelt got in touch about a radio interview, and it didn't take long for the ball to start rolling.”
Miss McCartney is in the process of making a music video to accompany her song.
Local film producers from Fractured Vision films are producing the video and took footage of guests at the masquerade ball to emphasise Miss McCartney’s message of “it’s okay not to be okay and to take off your mask”.
Miss McCartney said the event would not have been possible without the support of passionate friends and locals.
“I was fortunate enough to have the support of Jo Drayton, suicide prevention coordinator for the Wheatbelt on board to help support and guide me,” she said.
“My friends and I made about 25 masks to sell on the night with profits going towards fundraiser.
“The community support was overwhelming, with 125 people attending the ball, and several businesses donating towards the auction and raffle.”
Miss McCartney unfortunately lost her voice during the day of the ball so instead of a silent aution there was a silent host.
Another Fine Mess performed on the night.
The event raised a total of $9400 for suicide prevention in the Wheatbelt.
To date Ms McCartney’s song ‘It’s Ok’ has had 12000 listens on SoundCloud.
