SACA: About Febluary

About Febluary

Expect to see a lot more blue on the oval this season as cricketers pitch in to help spread the mental health message far and wide.

The Febluary campaign aims to raise awareness of depression, anxiety and related mental health disorders for beyondblue: the national depression initiative.

It is an initiative of the Southern District Cricket Club and is supported by the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA).

An official launch of Febluary will be held at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday February 1 with club representatives.

Thirteen of SACA’s Grade Cricket Clubs are taking part in Febluary by wearing blue at matches on February 7 and February 14. Around 1400 Grade cricketers and umpires celebrate SACA’s Febluary Round.

Every team will appoint an ambassador who will wear a blue Febluary cap. All players, umpires and officials will wear blue wristbands and even the bails on the stumps will be blue.

A Febluary Player of the Match medal will be presented to the most outstanding cricketer in every men’s and women’s senior and junior match

Free beyondblue resources will be widely distributed to the clubs and cricket community throughout Febluary.

Taken from SACA news website 8-2-09

SA Grade Cricket clubs go into bat for depression awareness during Febluary

Event: Launch of the Febluary campaign
Date: Sunday, February 1st
Time: 4pm to 5.30pm
Location: Adelaide Oval - The Committee Room above the George Giffen Stand

Expect to see a lot more blue on the oval this season as 1,400 South Australian Grade cricketers pitch in to help spread the message about depression and anxiety.

The Southern District Cricket Club, South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) and beyondblue: the national depression initiative have teamed up for the state-wide Febluary campaign.

Febluary aims to support beyondblue by raising awareness of depression, anxiety and related drug and alcohol disorders within the cricketing community.

Umpires, officials and 1,400 Grade cricketers from 13 SACA Grade Cricket Clubs will wear beyondblue wristbands, blue hats and paint their stumps blue during a round on February 7th and 14th at Grade Clubs around Adelaide. The official launch will be held at the Adelaide Oval this Sunday February 1st.

SACA Grade Cricket Coordinator Shane Bernhardt said: "Last year, the Southern District Cricket Club launched Febluary within its regional zone and the feedback was so fantastic that this year, all 13 SACA Grade Clubs wanted to get involved in what we believe is an excellent cause.

"Depression and anxiety do affect the cricketing community and this is a great way for clubs to work closely within their teams and with the greater community to show they care about addressing these health problems."

beyondblue Chairman The Hon. Jeff Kennett said: "Febluary is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of depression at district cricket games where the community gets together. Anyone can become depressed at any time - even very fit, elite sportspeople. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. The sooner you get the right treatment, the sooner you're back in the game.

"I am particularly pleased that another sporting code, this time the South Australian cricket fraternity has come on board with beyondblue to help us get the message out that depression and anxiety can be treated and if people get the right help, they do recover."

In addition, cricket players from the Kangaroo Island, Barossa and Light and Great Southern Cricket Associations will join the campaign and wear beyondblue wristbands during February.

Speakers at launch: ABC sports broadcaster and beyondblue Ambassador Craig Hamilton - who has bipolar disorder; sports psychologist Tim Dansie; President of Southern District Cricket Club, Russell Vincent and Grade Cricket Coordinator for the South Australian Cricket Association, Shane Bernhardt.

Contacts:

* beyondblue CEO Leonie Young and beyondblue Ambassador Craig Hamilton: call beyondblue 03 9810 6100 Julie Foster or Jane Gardner.
* Southern District Cricket Club: Russell Vincent.
* South Australian Cricket Association: Shane Bernhardt.

For more information on depression, anxiety, related drug and alcohol problems, available treatments and where to get help, go to www.beyondblue.org.au or call the beyondblue info line 1300 22 4636 (local call).