Close to $6,000 has been raised for the Community Networks Community Support Fund from two performances of Michael Metzger’s play ‘The Changing Shed’ at Te Kura O Take Kārara. 

Michael said that the fund was a “good fit for the themes of the play,” an autobiographical account of his experiences growing up gay in 1970s rural Otago. 

“Many young people struggle with depression as a result of bullying and exclusion, and it can be doubly hard for rainbow youth,” he said.

The $5,735 raised from the play, which took place last weekend, will be ear-marked for the mental health support element of the Community Support Fund, which subsidises the costs of counselling for individuals and families in the Upper Clutha. 

The fund can also help those struggling financially with household expenses such as power and medical bills and one-off costs like fuel and firewood, school uniforms and stationery.  

Local gym The Fit Collective have been supporting the mental health element of this fund for the past five years, and gym owner Kim Parry assisted in the production of ‘The Changing Shed’ in Wanaka. 

“Being able to provide help to people in our community who are having a really hard time with no access to support is so important,” she said. “I love that the fundraising goes directly to help and doesn’t get absorbed with administration fees and bureaucracy. 

“Both Michael and I wanted to raise awareness that even in a picture-perfect town such as Wanaka there are people and families who are really, really struggling and that we need to think about how we treat others and how we can support each other.”

Community Networks manager Kate Murray gave “a huge thank you to Michael and The Fit Collective for their generous donation to the Community Networks Community Support Fund, which will go towards helping people in the community with the costs of counselling.

“We’ve seen an increase in demand for mental health support in recent months, and it’s great to be able to help people with the cost of seeing a counsellor.” 

Applicants to the Community Support Fund must be referred by a social services professional. 

For more information, email [email protected] or call 03 443 7799. 

A list of counselling and mental health services in the area can be found here.

PHOTO: Jordan Wichman