New South Wales News

Wandering 6000 kilometres for mental health awareness

Published

2 years ago

11 November 2022

JeffG

NRT - wandering minds bailey north coast

Wandering 6000 kilometres for mental health awareness

By MARGARET DEKKER

This is no walk in the park. Nor is it an average day-hike or overnighter on a clearly marked trail.
The Wandering Minds Walk is a 6-thousand-kilometre trek (more or less) over a year, solo, carrying 18-kilograms of everything needed for survival with not everything going to plan, on a huge open trail from southernmost Wilsons Promontory in Victoria to northernmost Cape York in Queensland, and all that vast, changing country in between.
Doing it is Bailey Seamer, a 23-year-old Newcastle woman whose mission it is to raise awareness, education and important funds for mental health, step by determined step.
“I see it as going for a hike every day for a year,” Bailey laughed when The Northern Rivers Times caught up with her, shortly after walking the length of Yuraygir National Park from Minnie Water to Yamba and the big stretch from Woody Head to Evans Head, where Bailey was catching her breath.

Bailey Seamer starts her “WANDERING MINDS WALK” a one-woman trek along the east coast of Australia.

“My walking’s not really measured in kilometres walked but hours walked each day, and usually I walk between eight and ten hours a day, most days,” Bailey Seamer said.
Starting May 18 from remote South Point at ‘The Prom,’ Bailey’s extraordinary feat is made all the more remarkable as hers is a path neither signposted nor contained whole in a guidebook, and far exceeds the 4-thousand-kilometre distance by road.
“It’s kind of a course of .. just walk North!” Bailey laughed.
.. Over beaches and bushland, river crossings and scrub .. and the dreaded impassable headland requiring the dreaded “backtrack.”
“I have to all the time!” Bailey said.
“It’s not all fun, some days I absolutely hate it because of physical injury or psychological stress or environmental factors I face.
“But I do get these windows of absolute positivity and beauty which make it all worth it. Let’s just say it’s 90-percent grind and 10-percent pleasure,” Bailey Seamer said.
This third-year nursing student has already raised $30-thousand dollars for the Black Dog Institute to help fund research, resources, and services for better mental health. 1 in 5 Australians will experience symptoms of mental illness in any one year.
“ .. that’s around 5 million people. And roughly 60% of these people won’t seek help,” the Blackdog Institute states.
Now 2100 kilometres into her northern ascent, it’s also a personal journey for Bailey Seamer who experiences bipolar disorder.
“I was in psych hospitals as a young adult, but I got to a crossroads in my life where I said, ‘this can’t be it’ – I was told I’d struggle to ever work, hold down a relationship, finish a Uni. degree and it really did feel like an absolute sentence,” Bailey Seamer said.
“But then I thought ‘this suffering can’t be everything I ever have.’ There had to be more to life, and I realised I could help others.
“You could say, I was more scared of living the life I was then living .. than to take the jump to do something that may actually kill me!” Bailey said.
And mid-way along her quest, Bailey Seamer is living proof anything’s possible.
“You could say, I’m taking my mental illness on the road. It would seem impossible, managing a mental illness while simultaneously walking, that that’s where the problems would lie, but starting was the hardest thing to do. And it’s shown me that I can show others with mental illness that you can have a life and passions, you can do it,” she said.
It’s a journey complete with unique coping strategies, to keep this one-woman show on the road, including her ‘Tantrum Timer’ when feelings ‘bubble’ and stress builds.
“I set the Tantrum Timer to six minutes, throw the pack down whether it’s bush or beach, I scream, cry, let it all out like a toddler at the shopping centre and when the timer goes off, I pick myself up, brush myself off and get going,” she smiled.
Because when the going gets tough, the tough get going, inspiring others.
“People have contacted me saying ‘You’re the reason I got out of bed in the morning, because of what you’re doing, given what you’ve overcome to do this,’” Bailey Seamer said.
As she draws her own inspiration from her late Grandma’s mottos:
“If you’re brave enough to try, you’re brave enough to succeed ..”
And: “Courage is not the absence of fear but deciding something else is more important than fear itself.”
As Bailey treks ever north, parallels are drawn between her and American woman Cheryl Strayed who, at a similar 22 years of age, hiked 1770 kilometres up the Pacific Crest Trail on America’s West Coast, inspiring a best-selling book and movie.
“People do say, ‘you’re that ‘Wild’ movie person and I go ‘yeah, kind of, but I don’t have the endless views and I have a lot of mud!’” Bailey Seamer laughed.
“But it’s a similar thing, giving up everything to try and create a better reality.”
From here, the reality is at least 700 more kilometres of coastline to Seventeen Seventy near Gladstone in Queensland, where Bailey finally turns in.
“From there up, there are crocodiles! So, I’ll have to turn inland to get to Cape Tribulation,” she conceded.
Her father, greatest supporter, and former Newcastle Knights player Scott Seamer will join his daughter for the last leg of this epic adventure, all the way to the Cape.
“I know once it’s over, I will reflect on this trip with a lot of fondness, like any adventure, once it’s done, I will be like ‘I can’t believe I did that.”
“This will be with me for the rest of my life, to take with me wherever I go, that I walked the East Coast of Australia. It’s good to have this in my back pocket, that my own capability is immeasurable,” Bailey Seamer said.
Just don’t tell this walking warrior to ‘live in the moment ..’
“These people haven’t tried a river crossing!” she laughed.
.. before I ask the obvious question to the one woman who’s walking the entire East Coast of Australia solo and carrying a heavy pack: “How are your FEET?”
“Haha! My body is refusing to grow skin now on certain parts because it just comes off again anyway .. But my Soloman boots, they’ve been phenomenal, they’re my Four-Wheel-Drives,” she said, while still on her original pair!
And her Top-3 highlights this far?
• Jervis Bay “beautiful weather, no people, sunrises and just dolphins everywhere ..”
• Yuraygir National Park “was gorgeous coming up through Yamba and Iluka ..”
• Taronga Zoo’s ‘Roar and Snore’ experience
As Bailey Seamer laces up for yet another leg of this one-woman triumph.
“From here at Evans Head, I’ll zip up to Ballina by the beach .. it’s 40-something K’s (kilometres) then to Lennox to Byron Bay. Yes, a big couple of days!” she said.
It’s almost a marathon. In more ways than one.
“Yeah I do think of that sometimes .. But if I stop, I don’t get anywhere,” Bailey Seamer opined.
Infinite wisdom already, from this 23-year-old’s infinite journey of a lifetime.
“I didn’t expect this trip would harden me the way it already has, make me more cynical in fact, that it’s not this whimsical walk in a flowy dress but that out there, there are real life or death challenges.
“My perception on reality is now very different, what’s important now are safety, shelter, food, and water. I have a whole new understanding of what is a problem.
“And if change is going to happen, you can’t dictate how it will happen, and it’s likely to have both positive and negative aspects but that’s just what comes with it,” Bailey Seamer shared from her wandering and wondering mind.
“And I have a whole new appreciation for something as simple as a bench seat!
“You could say I had my ‘Forrest Gump’ moment,” she laughed.
Indeed, ‘Walk Bailey Walk’ – for another 2000 kilometres, and more.

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Heading North! 6000 kms to Cape York

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD BAILEYS STORY

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2 days ago

15 May 2024

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Child Protection Workers Strike in New England Over Safety Concerns

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The workers, supported by the Public Service Association of NSW (PSA), are voicing urgent concerns over the handling of child protection cases in the region. According to internal data, last year saw 18,582 children reported as at risk of serious harm (ROSH) across New England, Mid North Coast, and Northern NSW, yet only 15% received visits from caseworkers—marking the lowest response rate in the state.

Chronic understaffing is a critical issue, with more than 20% of child protection positions currently unfilled in these districts, occasionally reaching 25%. This dire shortage contributes to high turnover rates, with 50% of caseworkers leaving within their first two years of service.

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Stewart Little, General Secretary of PSA, expressed deep concerns about the ongoing crisis: “Our most vulnerable children are being put at greater risk due to the lack of sufficient staff and the overwhelming exhaustion faced by the current workforce,” he said. Little highlighted that the strike is part of a broader strategy to press the government for significant reforms, including the recruitment of 500 new caseworkers, substantial pay raises for current staff, and a move to de-privatise foster care services.

The PSA warns that today’s protest is just the beginning, with plans for an escalating series of rallies across the state if the demands are not met. They assure the public that urgent child protection responses will not be affected during the protest, with skeleton staffing maintained throughout.

Child protection workers urge Premier Chris Minns and Minister Kate Washington to take immediate action to resolve the staffing crisis and improve the system, emphasising that while the current NSW government did not create the problem, it is their responsibility to solve it.

For more New South Whales news, click here.

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Marine Rescue NSW Wraps Up Second Busiest Season with Over 3,200 Missions

Published

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15 May 2024

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Marine Rescue NSW Wraps Up Second Busiest Season with Over 3,200 Missions

Marine Rescue NSW has recently concluded its second busiest boating season to date, undertaking 3,242 search and rescue missions, including 921 emergencies from October 1, 2023, to ANZAC Day 2024. This year’s operations nearly matched the record-setting 3,251 missions of the 2022/23 season, according to Commissioner Alex Barrell.

The organisations 3,400 volunteers played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of 7,535 boaters across the state’s waters, returning them safely to shore. Commissioner Barrell highlighted a significant challenge this season: “Over 40% of our emergency responses were due to mechanical failures, particularly engine issues. We strongly encourage boaters to thoroughly check their equipment before setting out to prevent such avoidable situations.”

Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie reported the highest activity with 441 missions. Remarkably, the regions of Mid North Coast, Illawarra, and Monaro also experienced their busiest seasons on record. The Monaro region’s eight units saw a 16% increase in operations, Mid North Coast responses rose by 11%, and Illawarra units handled a 7% uptick in demand.

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Throughout the season, the service managed 144,806 radio communications, with many being coordinated through the Marine Rescue Sydney State Communications Centre at Belrose. Among these, there were 69 MAYDAY calls signalling imminent danger and 42 PAN PAN calls from boaters facing urgent but non-life-threatening issues.

Commissioner Barrell expressed his gratitude towards the volunteers: “I want to commend all our volunteers for their relentless dedication to maintaining safety on our waterways.” He also reminded boaters to stay vigilant year-round, emphasizing the importance of proper preparation and safety measures, especially during the colder months. “Ensure you log on with your local Marine Rescue NSW base and always wear appropriate safety gear, including lifejackets and warm clothing during winter outings,” he advised.

This season also saw a steady number of boaters using the free Marine Rescue app or VHF channel 16 to log their voyages, aiding in efficient monitoring and quicker response times in emergencies. With 44% of the season’s missions involving boating or fishing activities, and 125 incidents of capsized vessels, the importance of staying with the vessel and wearing lifejackets was particularly underscored by the Commissioner.

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1 week ago

8 May 2024

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The simple act of correctly wearing a seatbelt while in a moving vehicle has been a legal requirement in NSW for more than 50 years, but data shows 150 people died while not wearing one in the five years between 2019 and 2023.

On average, 15 per cent of deaths on NSW roads every year still involve seatbelt non-usage, with 36 people tragically lost last year.

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The enhancement of the state’s world-first mobile phone detection camera network will allow for a July 1 start date to the cameras also enforcing the seatbelt laws for the first time, the NSW Government confirms today.

Unlike when other new enforcement technologies have come into effect, there will be no grace period of warning letters after the NSW Parliament voted against starting seatbelt detection cameras in warning mode when enabling legislation was passed last year.

Photos released from testing of the cameras show a small but persistent percentage of drivers and some passengers continue to flout the law and wear their seatbelt incorrectly, including with the sash below the arm.

Every dollar raised by seatbelt cameras will go back into road safety.

Quotes attributable to State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin:

“The key here is personal, family and community safety. This is the best position from which to start.

“Our government wants to keep us safe. Our government has a duty to keep us safe. And at times that calls for some tough love.

“If drivers are failing in your obligation to keep yourself, your passengers and your fellow citizens, we shall slug you hard.

“I cannot believe that in 2024 some people are driving without putting their seatbelts on. They are putting themselves and everyone they come into contact with at risk.

“The message is clear; belt up, buckle up or pay the price.”

As of midnight Thursday 2 May 2024, 124 lives have been lost on NSW roads, which is 16 more than the same time last in 2023.

The NSW Labor Government has introduced a number of measures to counter the rising number of road fatalities, including:

The demerit point trial to encourage motorists who maintain a spotless record over 12 months to have a demerit point removed from their record
Hosting the state’s first Road Safety Forum of international and local experts
Last month we signed the National Road Safety Data Sharing Agreement to help support analysis of driver behaviour, and help the various state and federal governments work together to understand where the funding needs to go
Removing a loophole to force all motorists driving on a foreign licence to convert to a NSW licence within six months
Doubling roadside enforcement sites used for mobile speed cameras, with the addition of 2700 new locations where a camera can be deployed. Enforcement hours will remain the same.

Today marks the start of National Road Safety Week, an annual initiative of the Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) Group, which aims to highlight the impact of road trauma and ways to reduce it.

The theme for 2024 is All road safety is local – Drive So Others Survive. For more information on National Road Safety Week visit here.

For more New South Whales news, click here.

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