Created in 2022 after the tragic loss of a young person from Tasmania’s Huon Valley to suicide, the Hilltop Hike had the simple aim of starting a conversation about suicide prevention and mental health – and start a conversation it did!
Presented by the Rotary Club of Huon Valley, in partnership with Harcourts Huon Valley, Huon Valley Council and the Huon Valley PCYC, the Hilltop Hike has now become an annual event. More than just a climb to the top of Huonville’s Scenic Hill, the hike is a united front of the local community demonstrating their commitment to the mental wellbeing of the next generation.
In 2023, the event raised more than $67,000, with funds directly channelled to the Huon Valley PCYC, empowering them to support programs that tackle youth isolation, mental health challenges, and social delinquency.
To celebrate the hike’s success and recognise its supporters, a final wrap-up presentation and thank you evening was held on April 29, 2024.
Senator Catryna Bilyk was a guest of honour and commended the Rotary Club of Huon Valley on the vital initiative.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Rotary Club of Huon Valley members, and all involved, for their hard work and dedication in making this event possible,” Senator Bilyk said.
“I also want to thank all those people who braved the cold, the bleak and the wet – and it was cold, bleak and wet – to undertake the hike.
“The event raised over $67,000, with all funds going directly into local mental health services and community mental health training. This was an astonishing achievement for such a small community, highlighting its willingness to confront this too often difficult subject.”
Building on last year’s success, the 2024 Huon Valley Hilltop Hike will take place on Saturday, October 12, with the ambitious goal of raising more than $100,000.
An expression of interest will be launched, inviting community projects and services to be recipients of the event’s proceeds, ensuring funds are directed where they are needed most.
MAIN PICTURE: Deputy Mayor of Huon Valley and President of the Rotary Club of Huon Valley, Toby Thorpe, addressed participants of the 2023 Hilltop Hike at a wrap-up event celebrating the hike’s success. The 2023 event raised more than $67,000, with funds directly channelled to the Huon Valley PCYC.