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This year's RUOK? Day celebrations saw students across all year levels at Myrtleford P-12 College mark the day by wearing casual clothes, (some of them in yellow) and participating in a number of activities designed to get them to check in with each other and ask: 'Are you OK?'
From 11am to 3pm last Thursday, 11 September, students worked together in class to raise awareness of mental health struggles and supporting others.
"As a part of our Vocational Major VCE Personal Development Skills curriculum, we hosted an RUOK? Day fundraiser," student Riley Lennane said.
"We planned activities such as a sausage sizzle, photos, music, sports and award prizes to encourage the mental wellbeing of our fellow students."
Teacher Simon Povolo said the day went very well.
"We've had a busy morning with all hands on deck," he said.
"Our barbeque earlier raised almost $200 for the fundraiser: we had a good turn-out and sold all of our snags.
"Heiner's Bakery donated the bread for the barbeque and Dale's Butchery gave us a discount on sausages.
"The Year 11s had to organise everything over the last couple of weeks, from making a checklist and run-sheets, to organising staff availability and planning what food to organise.
"We've always arranged something for RUOK? Day, but this was the first year the Year 11s have been in charge."
The last class of the day saw all year levels make their way outside to the sunshine, to participate in either soccer, tee ball, ultimate frisbee or volleyball, depending on their grade.
"I had a hit at tee-ball and it went really well," year 5 student, Harlow Mitchell said.
"I was out by the second run, but it was very fun.
"Today is very important, so you can check if your friends or anyone are going OK, because you don't know what they're going through."
With a speaker set up in between the sportsgrounds, music carried over all the ovals and courts to add to the fun as students gave the games their best.
"The game of ultimate frisbee went really well," year 7-8 teacher, Sharon Antonello said.
"We had 40 plus kids on the field and they were flat-out.
"It's been a really good afternoon and a great way to finish the day."
RUOK? Day is an annual reminder you don't need to be an expert to reach out to others.
Anyone can use four steps to have a conversation that could change a life: Ask R U OK?, Listen, Encourage action and Check in.
For more information, visit: https://www.ruok.org.au/





