The Australian Lawn Fanatics (AUSLF) Facebook Group teams up with Gotcha4Life
By Lenny Lawler, AUSLF
The Australian Lawn Fanatics Group began in February 2015 as the Southeast Queensland Lawn Fanatics, after a simple conversation between 2 blokes after renovating a lawn. The concept was to get a small network of like-minded people together to help each other out with the physical job of lawn renovations. That small group took a year to grow to 100, and then as the boundaries of SEQ blurred we took the leap and became the Qld Lawn Fanatics. The popularity of the fanatics group and lawns on social media saw a rapid increase in membership numbers and blurred the boundaries again, so in 2017 we expanded to become the Australia-wide group that we are today. We’ve always tried to keep the fanatics true to its original concept of being an independent source of information, a community that helps each other and somewhere you can spend some time ogling incredible lawns.
But with any online environment, unfortunately, there can be negativity and we have experienced individuals who engage in sending harmful messages and generally abusing the community we have created. We’ve learned over time that it’s not healthy to keep this negativity to ourselves, so we discuss it openly in our private chat group. It’s where we go to vent about things, lawn-related or not and there’s always someone to listen and have a chat with, we have each other’s backs with everything in life. Recently we discussed what good things we could do to make a difference with using our social media platform which now has almost 100,000 members. I put forward the suggestion of partnering with Gotchya4Life and it was a unanimous decision. For those who haven’t seen what Gotchya4life do, their goal is ‘Fostering Good Mental Health for a Better Tomorrow.’
In an increasingly fast-paced and demanding world, good mental health is a precious asset that often goes unnoticed until it’s compromised. Organisations like Gotcha4Life have emerged as beacons of hope, tirelessly working to promote mental wellness and resilience. It’s a grim reality that in Australia 7 men and 2 women who woke up this morning will take their own lives today, that’s every day and that’s a statistic that really shocked us as we researched how we could help. The goal is zero.
One of the most crucial aspects of Gotcha4Life’s mission is destigmatising mental health issues. Historically, discussing mental health problems has been surrounded by shame and secrecy. However, organisations like Gotcha4Life are breaking down these barriers by encouraging open conversations about mental well-being. This shift is essential because it encourages individuals to seek help when needed, reducing the likelihood of mental health issues worsening over time. Another cornerstone of Gotcha4Life’s work is building a sense of community and connection. We saw this in the Fanatics group, particularly during COVID-19 and the lockdowns most people endured. Our group was a place where people would go to try and mentally escape from the drudgery of being in lockdown.
Education plays a vital role in mental health awareness and Gotcha4Life is dedicated to spreading knowledge. The organisation collaborates with schools, workplaces, and communities to educate people about the importance of mental health and equip them with tools to support themselves and others. By doing so, Gotcha4Life empowers individuals to recognise early signs of mental health issues and take proactive steps to address them.
The link between good mental health and physical health is undeniable, but I also strongly believe that getting outside, getting dirt on your hands, and connecting with the earth has enormous benefits. Gotcha4Life recognises this connection and advocates for holistic well-being. Physical activities and a healthy lifestyle are promoted as integral components of maintaining good mental health. Through various programs, Gotcha4Life encourages individuals to adopt healthier habits that benefit both body and mind.
Where do the Fanatics and the turf community at large fit into this? We’ve started a campaign to raise awareness and funds for Gotchya4life to hold workshops that take away the stigma and let you examine your mental fitness. We reached out to our friends in the industry and Lawn Solutions Australia was the first to jump in and donate $1000, that’s what a mental fitness workshop costs to run. The challenge is to match that generous donation or host a workshop, so that’s what we’re hoping to achieve. To fund as many workshops as we can.
Over the last 8 years, we’ve been lucky enough to experience some amazing things. From being a groundsman for a day at the Rugby League State of Origin to attendance at events like the Lawn Solutions Australia Conference and Awards Night. We’ve met some fantastic people and made some lifelong friends and contacts that have allowed us to help a huge number of people. We’ve partnered with some very generous companies to give away everything from a new lawn to countless mowers, snippers, blowers and even a few irrigation systems along the way.
After answering thousands of “What weed is this” or “How do I do this” questions over the 8 years since starting the fanatics back in February 2015, this partnership with Gotchya4life is the thing I’m most proud of.
Those 9 Australians who wake up every morning deciding that today is their last day are just too many, the goal is zero, zero suicides. Please check out the Australian Lawn Fanatics Group on Facebook for more information on how you can become involved or visit the Gotchya4life website to donate today.
