Suicide Prevention Awareness Network - Central Victoria

16/03/2026

Darryle leads the 2026 walk.

15/03/2026

Lifeline, CWA and some great blokes who always come along and support SPAN.

15/03/2026

Bendigo Fight Centre, who SPAN has sponsored this year, attended the walk today and showed a demonstration of exercise and training.
Thanks guys for your support.

15/03/2026

SPAN President Dean, guest speaker Jed Zimmer and Bendigo Mayor Thomas Prince.

15/03/2026

So many people helping today to set up for the SPAN walk.

14/03/2026

This is community.
So many helping today to set up for the annual SPAN walk.

Thank you all.

14/03/2026

A beautiful day ahead where we honour and remember loved ones lost to su***de.
The new quilt pictured here has been made with love by the Bendigo and District Quilters.
Thank you for the work you have put into this.

14/03/2026

Today is the day!

Join us TODAY for our Annual Bendigo SPAN Walk
🦋 10.30am at Dai Gum San Chinese Precinct

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗼:
🦋 10.30am – Arrive
🦋 10.45am – Welcoming ceremony
🦋 11.00am – Start the awareness walk along a peaceful two-kilometre route
🦋 11.45am – Butterfly Remembrance Ceremony, a moment to honour and remember
🦋 12.00pm – Free sausage sizzle

𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿:
Jed Zimmer, a mental health advocate and fundraiser, will share his lived experience and powerful message of hope and resilience. Known for undertaking extreme endurance challenges to raise awareness and funds for su***de prevention, Jed’s story highlights the strength of community support and the importance of speaking openly about mental health.

𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲:
Official SPAN merchandise, including T-shirts, hats, and bandanas, will be available for purchase by cash or card.

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲:
Representatives from headspace Bendigo, Bendigo Community Health Services, and Lifeline Loddon Mallee will be present to offer support and resources to those in need.

Donations can be made on the day or by emailing admin@spancv.org.au.

14/03/2026

Well done to Lucas and the team at Bendigo Fight Centre for providing a space for young people and their families to learn new skills to support their physical and mental health and wellbeing 🫶
We are excited to have the team be part of our event tomorrow.🦋🦋🦋

Over the past 6 months Su***de Prevention Awareness Network - Central Victoria have sponsored over 20 gym memberships to ensure our community have another option when seeking support for their physical health and wellbeing.🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏾‍♀️‍➡️
We look forward to coming together and reducing the stigma about reaching out for support.🤼🤼‍♀️
***deprevention

Join the fight for awareness. ✊

Bendigo Fight Centre invites members and supporters to join us on Sunday, 15 March 2026 at 10:30 AM for the SPAN Su***de Awareness Walk at Dai Gum San, Bridge St, Bendigo.
We’re honoured to partner with the Su***de Prevention and Awareness Network (SPAN) to raise awareness and honour loved ones. 💙

BFC will be presenting a non combative demonstration on the day, covering fundamental body mechanics and body weight exercises.
These accessible movements support physical and mental health
resistance and other forms of exercise are shown to help prevent and treat depression and boost mood. 🧠 💪

A 2023 University of South Australia review that analysed more than 1000 trials found that even some of the most simple activities such as walking or basic resistance training improved depression and anxiety symptoms more than being sedentary. 🚶‍♀️ 🚶

Our aim is to share these science‑backed techniques so you can incorporate them into your life to support your mental health. We look forward to walking together for healing and hope. 🙏

We look forward to walking together for healing and hope.
We hope to see you all there. ✊ 🦋

13/03/2026

Check out the event timeline and the walk route to prepare you for our event on Sunday .

12/03/2026

This Sunday we will come together for the SPAN Walk at the Dai Gum San to walk together with our community to remember the lives lost to su***de. 🪶
This year there will be a strong focus on youth engagement with our first youth Ute show inspired by Jett Hird and the founders of the Boort Ute show.

Last year at the Boort Ute show we met Patrick who was awarded the SPAN Heart and Sole award for the best Ute. Wait to you meet Patrick and see his Ute. He is passionate about youth mental health and takes pride in showing his Ute as it reflects the hard work and dedication of having a dream and living it. Patrick has been the key driver to make our Ute show happen bringing everyone together to make a difference.
Jett Hird will be there as a member of the Boort Ute show committee who inspired our event to create awareness for youth mental health and seeking support when you need it after the loss of their mate to su***de.

There will be a special place for the Ute owned by Brock who won the people’s choice award last year at the Boort Ute show. Brock’s family will show his Ute in memory of Brock who sadly passed away recently. Brock would have attended the event, but his memory will be with us on the day along with his loved ones standing strong beside his beloved Ute.

The Utes will be on display in the McCrae St car park off Farmers Lane near the Dai Gum San from 10am onwards.
Come on down, show your support, check out the Utes and meet some amazing young people with the same passion.
There will also be a prize for the Ute with the most "Heart and Sole" proudly sponsored by the SPAN committee and headspace Bendigo

If you would like to enter the Ute show, we have only have a few spots available. Please call Haylee Kennedy on 0418648233 to confirm details.

12/03/2026

A cherished tradition continues at this year’s SPAN Walk 🦋

This year's memorial quilt, created with care by members of the Bendigo and District Quilters, will be unveiled at the 2026 SPAN Su***de Prevention Awareness Walk.

Each year, the quilt stands as a powerful symbol of remembrance, honouring loved ones lost to su***de and reflecting the strength and support of our community.

We thank the Bendigo and District Quilters for their time, skill and generosity in creating this meaningful piece.

Join us on Sunday 15 March at the Dai Gum San Chinese Precinct.

If you need help now, call Lifeline 13 11 14.