The Bendigo Suicide Prevention and Awareness Walk, planned for March, has been cancelled for a second consecutive year.
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The event has been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns.
The walk had been an annual Bendigo event, with hundreds of people turning out to the Dai Gum San precinct to support each other, listen to guest speakers and take part in the traditional butterfly remembrance ceremony, with the most recent event taking place in 2019, as the 2020 event was also cancelled due to COVID-19.
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Suicide Prevention Awareness Network Central Victoria group president Rod Flavell said the continued uncertainty and changing landscape around coronavirus meant cancelling the walk was the only option for 2021.
"Community welfare must come first," Mr Flavell said.
"We haven't made this decision lightly, but feel it's in the best interests of the hundreds of people who attend the walk that we cancel the event for this year.
"It's so disappointing given we didn't hold the walk last year, but rest assured, we remain positive the walk will return in 2022 and look forward to using the event as a major part of our ongoing work to raise awareness around suicide prevention."
Mr Flavell said the SPAN group is looking at other ways of raising suicide prevention awareness in 2021.
"Change must start with education and awareness so the SPAN group will continue our work and look for other ways to keep getting important messages out into the community around mental health, wellbeing and asking for help when needed."
To keep up-to-date with the SPAN group's work, follow the @SPANcentralvic Facebook page or visit spancv.org.au