In honour of Sophie Quattromani

On the 27th of October we will celebrate the life of Sophie Louise Quattromani. 

Sophie was so loved by everyone who was fortunate enough to meet her in her 21 years of life. She touched the lives of every single person who met her and was an inspiration to all of us.

Sophie struggled throughout her teenage years with depression and was finally diagnosed early this year with Bipolar 1. Sophie was strong and brave but it was an inner battle for her every single day. Now, Sophie is free from that battle. Her spirit will remain with us for as long as we live, and although life won’t be the same without her, we will always remember how her smile lit up the darkest of nights, and how her wisdom and care for others never faltered.

On this day we would like to honour her and celebrate the 21 years of her existence. Sophie’s life has been nothing short of extraordinary, and we would like to recognise that although she was taken from us too early, she was simply too special to be with us here on Earth.


The Universe had a bigger plan for Soph, and during her time on Earth she has sent a ripple through the community that has changed the way we perceive depression. Even the brightest star can be eclipsed by a darkness so heavy it becomes impossible to lift. Sophie was so brave during her battle with this darkness, and it took only a moment of weakness for her to succumb to it. For Sophie, we must unite as a community and create a solid platform for sufferers of depression and Bipolar disorder. Sophie was not alone in her suffering. In Australia alone, over a million adults suffer from depression each year, and 1 in every 100 suffer from Bipolar. However, Bipolar has remained a ghostly spectre that very few are able to recognise. We know that together we can create waves through the community and raise awareness to the magnitude of this disorder. For Sophie’s sake, we must unite in the bid to find light in the darkness, and furthermore shed light on the tragedy that has occurred so close to home.  

The Sunshine Coast Bipolar Support Group was started by Caloundra Pharmacist, Peter Davis, almost five years ago. Peter is in the unique position of having an extensive knowledge of medications used to treat mental illnesses, and having a lived experience of Bipolar Disorder. The Bipolar Group meets at the Caloundra Community Centre, monthly. The Mental Health Awareness Support Group, formed by Kylie Jones, meets monthly at the Maroochy Neighborhood Centre.
Jes and Carol have benefited from both of these groups.
The two groups are affiliated with Mental Illness Fellowship Qld (MIFQ).
The Bipolar Support Group is designed to provide education about Bipolar and Mental Illness in a safe and confidential environment. People can come along, learn and feel free to share experiences from their own journey. It's a liberating feeling to hear other people share similar stories. Immediately giving those present, the security of not being alone.
Peter is a firm believer that one of the most important aspects of managing mental illness is social connectedness. To enable the support group members to remain socially connected, there is a monthly dinner, breakfast and movie night, organized at various coastal venues. Peter regularly posts informative articles via email to the database and on the Bipolar Support Group Facebook Page. For further information about what Peter does in the field of Mental Health on the Sunshine Coast, please access his website
www.peterzweel.com.au
Or via his details below.