Eight Onkaparinga pubs are vying to be named the region’s best – all in the name of suicide prevention.
Seaford Rotary Club and The Pub Whisperer have teamed up to put on the inaugural City of Onkaparinga Great Aussie Pub Challenge – a competition to crown four local pubs as the region’s best – as voted by the public.
Eight local pubs have signed up for the challenge, and you’re encouraged to vote for the local pub you think “cares for your community more than any other in the region”, with voting closing at midday on Saturday 12 October. The participating pubs are:
- The Old Noarlunga Hotel
- The Alma (Willunga)
- The Old Bush Inn (Willunga)
- The Aldinga Hotel
- The Royal Oak Hotel (Clarendon)
- The Aussie Inn (Hackham)
- Mick O'Shea's (Hackham)
- The McLaren Vale Hotel
When you cast your vote, and your chosen pub is voted as one of the top four, you’ll win a soft drink for you and a mate at that pub.
If your pub is voted as the overall winner, you'll go into the draw to win a dinner for two at the pub as well.
But more significantly, staff at the four winning pubs will receive access to the Black Dog Institute’s online Recognise and Respond suicide prevention training, among a range of other resources and additional promotion.
The Pub Whisperer and Great Aussie Pubs founder, Jono Hart – a previous Leadership Onkaparinga participant – says the training will ensure publicans, bar, gaming and security staff will know what to look for, say and do when someone in the pub is experiencing suicide ideation.
“Pubs are places where mates meet, drinks are enjoyed and friendships are forged, but they’re also places where people go to escape their problems,” Jono explains.
“The stats tell us that up to 69 per cent of people that commit suicide have alcohol in their system. Frontline staff could play a role to help people doing it tough.
“Simply by getting involved, all participating pubs have shown they care for their community, and their staff will be better prepared to assist patrons in improving their mental health should they be going through tough times.”
Head to the City of Onkaparinga Great Aussie Pub Challenge website for more information and to cast your vote.
The winners will be announced at this year’s Seaford Rotary Seaside Walk on Sunday 13 October.
If you or anyone you know needs help right now, here’s a list of national crisis numbers and suicide prevention helplines.