FCS Scholarship for a disadvantaged child

We miss Lachlan terribly.

It is hard to know what to do, but when I think of Lachlan's life with me, he did so much healing while he attended Fitzroy Community school. He was in great need of the support, perseverance, stability, continuous care and tolerance that the FCS family provided for him. FCS is like a big loving extended family. I understand it takes a village to raise a child, and FCS provided that loving village which made such a difference in his life. The teaching family there all went out of their way to help Lachlan. They worked really hard to help him, and he felt their love. Lachlan healed more and more every year. He made lasting friends and created an impression with his warm hugs and funny ways.

I thought it would be good to create a scholarship, so that another child in need but without the funds, could attend FCS and benefit from being there like Lachlan did.

I have therefore decided to do an annual 'long walk' as a fundraiser for this scholarship. In planning these walks, I think of special times Lachlan and I have had as an inspiration for the directions and destination of the walk.

Last year I wanted to walk the Goldfields track because Lachlan and I had talked about walking this in its entirety together; in fact we had discussed it just the week before he died.

This year, I am choosing this destination towards the coast, because the beach was always somewhere very healing for Lachlan. It has been somewhere I find hard to be since he died, for reasons too hard to talk about. I have a particular memory of us racing little wooden boats I had made for Lachlan along a tidal creek that opened to the ocean, right near Lorne. We went there a few times. It was so much fun - he kept saying: "again, again, again." He used to say that a lot.

Shadow is my constant companion and will be walking with me. She is a funny dog with a very cute character. She is cheeky and has this ability to do something silly right when I am feeling so much grief. She is amazing like that.

Suicide Prevention

In addition to fundraising for a scholarship fund, I also intend to work towards suicide prevention. Last year I handed out herb bags with information about suicide prevention resources. I intend to do that this year too, just in a small way. Last year I had some honest and touching conversations with people and I hope in time to get better at this, to hopefully help someone maybe.

It is my hope that by talking about mental illness, there will be less stigma, and maybe more people can reach out for help.