Putting a new spin on mental fitness in Gerringong
When fitness trainer Korin Koutsomihalis went shopping earlier this year, she got a lot more than she bargained for.
That quick trip to the shops started a community movement that is improving mental fitness in the small coastal town of Gerringong, south of Sydney.
It began when mum-of-three Korin noticed a poster for Gotcha4Life. “I went home and looked it up. When I saw what Gotcha4Life did, I thought, right, I need to get in contact.”
“I’d heard numerous stories about young people in our community around mental health and suicide. It’s a large problem in the Kiama geographic area. Some of my clients are mums and dads and when we’re training, they’ll talk about their kids struggling, or other kids they know who are finding mental health a bit tough.”
So Korin approached the principal at Gerringong Public School and got the green light for Gotcha4Life to deliver workshops tailored for Year 5 and 6 students, and for parents and carers.
Gotcha4Life Ambassador Bonnie Hancock inspired the kids with her story of resilience and overcoming challenges - including crocs and sharks - as she paddled around Australia on a ski.
“I used the story of my journey to talk about the importance of working on your mental fitness - of having a crew around you that you can rely on, trust and confide in,” Bonnie says.
“And not just overcoming physical challenges but the mental challenges, like the isolation and loneliness of paddling all day and not being able to speak to my crew, and the importance of debriefing with them at the end of the day.
“The kids shared their own strengths and challenges and we established who their ‘village’ was. By the end, they felt motivated to go away and really look after and check in on those around them.”
The impact has already been profound, as Korin explains.
“The school was a great community starting point for getting parents on board, and the kids got that knowledge about who they can talk to, establishing relationships, and that it’s OK to tell someone when things are tough. I’m hoping we are going to see some changes and kids being open to talking about what’s going on.”
That’s already happened with Korin’s own 12-year-old son James. He had struggled to fit in after arriving at the school three years ago when his family moved to the area - and had kept the struggle to himself. Until the workshop.
"He’s a very open child, we’re very, very close and talk all the time, but he thought he needed to hold it on his shoulders. He thought ‘I’m not going to worry mum and dad about this, I’m coping’. But after going to that Gotcha4Life workshop, he spoke to my husband a day later and said, ‘This is what is going on for me’. We were gobsmacked.”
“He’s doing so much better and we now have that open conversation a lot more and really check in each day.”
Two more community workshops are scheduled with Gotcha4Life’s program partners Tomorrow Man and Tomorrow Woman, this time for older teens and adults, as the ripple effect continues through the area.
The Gerringong community isn’t just receiving support - it’s giving back too, raising awareness and more than $4,500 for mental fitness by joining this year’s Gotcha4Life 24 Hour Row.
It didn’t matter that there were no rowing machines in the town. They rode spin bikes instead. Korin put the seven spin bikes from her Soul Fit Co gym on the main floor of the Gerringong Bowling and Recreation Club.
Local businesses made donations. Community groups and businesses like The Hill, Ray White, Gezza Cares, Gerringong Lions Club and Gerringong Sunrise Rotary club provided great support. People of all ages and abilities took turns riding around the clock for 24 hours.
That included 103-year-old Bev. Visually impaired Steven with guide dog York. Recent stroke survivor Jeff. Local baker Richard with 14-month-old daughter Aria on the handlebars.
Boys from the Under 13 Gerringong Lions - including Korin’s son and others who had done the workshop - not only pedalled, they talked on microphones about the importance of mental fitness, finding support and knowing who your village is. Their teachers got on board. Their deputy principal rode.
Even Bowlo club patrons who’d turned up at their local unaware of the event asked to jump on and ride. “It was an inclusive fundraiser that brought mental health awareness to everyone and no one was excluded,” Korin says.
“It was a lovely follow on from the workshop. It was a whole community led-fundraiser and that is so powerful in itself. It shows so many people in our community really value the importance of this.
“We all talk about mental health but it needs action. This was action. It’s all about having conversations, being aware of your village and connecting with people. We need to see change and this is how we make it.”
“I’m so grateful to everyone for getting on board.”
And we’re so grateful for you, Korin!
