Port Stephens Netball Association will hold its second annual Mental Health Round on Saturday 16 August, with the aim of raising $10,000 to support vital mental health and wellbeing initiatives in the local community.
Following the success of last year’s inaugural event—which raised $7,000—the Association is building on momentum and community support, already securing $7,500 through generous donations from Hunter Homes NSW ($5,000) and an online raffle ($2,500). With a membership base of around 600, the Association hopes to make an even greater impact this year.
The Mental Health Round is delivered in partnership with two incredible organisations: Talk2MeBro and Jupiter Australia. Both groups are actively engaged in providing mental health education, support, and wellbeing programs for youth across Port Stephens.
Talk2MeBro will bring back crowd favourites like ice baths for dollars (aka “dollars for dunking”), as well as breathwork classes designed to help participants centre themselves and relax. There will also be mindfulness books for sale and an array of market-style stalls focused on mental health, wellbeing, and food—each giving a percentage of profits back to the cause. This year, the number of stalls has more than doubled, growing from seven to 15.
A powerful community feature of the day was the chalk messages initiative, where buckets of chalk were placed on every court, inviting kids and adults to write messages of support, encouragement, and reflections on why netball matters to them.
“We put buckets on every single court for kids to write messages of positivity—what good health and wellbeing means to them and why netball's important as part of that journey,” Jodi Cassar, President of Port Stephens Netball Association shared.
“It was really lovely last year at the end of the day, just walking around all the courts to see the writing that had been put down in the chalk and there were no swear words, nothing negative. It was really heartening just to see the kids and adults on their hands writing messages on the netball court.”
In addition to the activities and community spirit, the event wouldn’t be complete without a massive BBQ, which also helps raise funds for the cause.
Event organiser Sophie Bradbery, daughter of Association President Jodi Cassar, is passionate about using sport as a platform to support youth in the region.
Located in an area that includes Karuah and Raymond Terrace—both of which face socio-economic challenges and higher-than-average rates of youth crime, suicide, and welfare dependency—Port Stephens Netball Association is determined to be a safe space for young people.
“It’s really important for us that we do run a really welcoming and friendly and safe space so that kids have got a safe space to come and play netball and participate in sport,” said Cassar.
The Association also works closely with local schools and clubs to make netball accessible for all—providing uniforms and reducing registration fees for those who may otherwise miss out.
“Team sports in particular create safe spaces for young people to learn skills, to learn about hardship, to learn about working together and a whole heap of other collaborative skills that they're taking to their workplaces.
So for me, community sport and team sports in particular is really about building those life skills in a safe space.”
With Talk2MeBro merchandise selling strongly—$4,000 last year—and now seen regularly around the community, the positive ripple effect of this initiative is already being felt.
“A lot of tragic events don’t discriminate,” Cassar said. “That’s why creating awareness, raising funds, and building resilience through events like this is so important.”
Netball NSW encourages associations to organise their own social concern community events and is committed to providing support and assistance in any way they can.
