Community Shed Champions Mental Health: Blue Tractors for Change in Queensland

First published Shed Chatter Spring Edition 2024.

Blue tractors have become a powerful symbol for mental health and suicide prevention in the rural communities of Fassifern Valley and Boonah in Queensland’s Scenic Rim.

Earlier this year, a 1950s-era Ferguson Tractor (Donated by local farmers Dave and Diane Weber) was painted Blue and placed on the busy Boonah-Ipswich Road with the simple message displayed: ‘Feeling blue? Get help’, in an initiative funded by the Fassifern Suicide Prevention Network in partnership with Milbong and District Historical Tractor Club and with support from the Scenic Rim Regional Council. Another tractor was later placed at Silverdale.

Members of The Boonah Activity Shed found a unique way to support the initiative and contribute to the region's mental health by crafting distinctive Blue Tractors. The collection, which includes ten large tractors mounted on donation boxes and 20 smaller tractors, will be used to collect funds and aid mental health programs in the community.

Shed President Gail Fysh recently presented the handcrafted tractors to Ken Meldrum from the Fassifern Suicide Prevention Network. Ken also represents Carinity, Beyond Blue, and the Wesley Mission. Ken expressed his gratitude and highlighted the positive impact the Sheds' contribution will have.

Thanks to Ross and Sandy Gilbert, who together with Jean Smith made, assembled and painted the tractors. Their hard work will help make blue tractors synonymous with the local Mental Health prevention programs.

This Boonah-based project is set to feature at the upcoming Australian Mental Health Conference in Sydney.

If you’re passing through Boonah, keep an eye out for the two large Blue Tractors prominently displayed at key roadways: one on the Boonah-Ipswich Road at Milbong and the other on the Cunningham Highway at Silverdale.