Llew O'Brien (Wide Bay, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

This week is Mental Health Week. It is important that everyone takes care of their mental health through exercise, diet and relaxation as well as through social, sporting and creative activities. I said in my maiden speech that we need to do more to remove the stigma that surrounds mental health and we need to look out for the mental wellbeing of our loved ones, our friends and colleagues.

One of the best ways to lift our wellbeing is through social interaction and the arts. So it was a great pleasure to attend the opening night of the Gympie Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival last Thursday. This was the ninth anniversary of the event and over 100 short films were screened over the three-day program. About 200 people were at the opening of the festival to watch six short films. I was particularly touched by the story of Kayah Guenther, who was born with trisomy. The powerful film, entitled The Battle, conveyed Kayah's struggle with his identity as well as his experiences of power, passion and despair. All films were poignant and heartfelt. It is a tremendous honour that Gympie is able to host the event, which forms part of the Rush Festival. I encourage everyone to come along and be entertained by the Rush Festival's many activities that run over October. I thank the organisers and sponsors for putting on such a great film festival.

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