Auction of Blue Hats
Date: 31 August 2006
Time: 7pm
Place: BMW Edge at Federation Square, Melbourne
Waltraud Reiner is a colourful character who is one of Australia's most talented milliners.
For the past three months, she has travelled to communities across Australia to hold hat-making workshops to raise awareness of depression and beyondblue.
These are not just any hats she's helping people to make-they're blue hats!
Waltraud said: "I asked people to create a piece of art work while thinking about whatever 'the blues' means to them. This could be embroidery, painting or woodwork."
Several contributions to the Blue Hat Project have also been sent from overseas.
"We all change 'hats' numerous times in our daily lives and we keep many things 'under our hats'. Depression is one of them," she said.
One in five people living in Australia are likely to experience depression at some point in their life.
Depression is something with which Waltraud is familiar. Following an accident that left her husband Warrick a paraplegic at age 40, Waltraud became depressed herself.
"After three years of pretending I didn't need anyone, that I was a strong woman, capable and self-sufficient, I reached a stage where I could not stop crying. I cried over everything - things you would not normally cry over. What I didn't know was that I was experiencing depression,'' she says.
Waltraud's experience changed the way she approached teaching and hat-making. She believes with this project, by getting people together to make blue hats she is helping to reduce social isolation and raise awareness of depression.
It is important however, if you think you, or someone you care about, may be experiencing depression to seek help from a health professional.
The hats from the Blue Hat Project will be auctioned with some of the proceeds to be donated to beyondblue.
beyondblue CEO Ms Leonie Young will speak briefly before the auction and there will be a beyondblue stand at the venue with information about depression.
For more information on depression, anxiety and related substance-use disorders and where to get help, see the about depression section of this site or phone the beyondblue info line 1300 22 4636
For more information on the Blue Hat Project go to www.bluehatproject.org.au or www.hatextravaganza.com
To find out more about Waltraud's work go to www.torbandreiner.com | 
Waltraud Reiner |
 
Josephine Sigurgeirson BC, Canada
"The Blues have manifested themselves through my mother who has bipolar disorder. Thinking about her plight in life makes me feel frustrated and powerless. The orange splashes of colour in the hat represent not only the glimmers of hope I occasionally experience regarding her recovery and treatment, but also the ups with her own seemingly random cycle." |
Evelyn Roth, Maslin Beach, SA
"If you are feeling blue, take your surf board and head to the sea!" |
Anne Peters, Pearce, ACT
"Look good - feel good - have fun. Hand felt from the heart." |
Jenny Griffin, Portland, VIC
"This hat was made by 12 young people at the Kyeema Centre for People with Disabilities. The features on the hat display what makes them feel happy and what helps to take away the blues. This includes going to the beach, having a puppy or pussycat to cuddle and play with, sunny days, flowers and the garden, the moon and stars, listening to music and watching butterflies and birds." |
Lynne Johanna, USA
"The detachable Blues Buddy represents the large doses of humor needed to survive life...and the caring friends and family who share the joys and lighten the load. Wishing everyone the blessings of many Blues Buddies to listen during the down times and share the joys of the positive days."
|
|
