Edenhope brings Victorian filmmaker's dream to life
Leila McDougall had what most would consider an outrageous dream: to write, produce and star in a movie that would spark events and conversations about suicide in farming communities.
The Tatyoon farmer and mother-of-two not only pulled it off, but she is also now being swamped with requests to visit rural towns across Australia.
Most recently she travelled to Amsterdam, where she was named ‘Best Oceanian Actress’ at the Septimius Awards.
Her movie, ‘Just A Farmer’, will be screened in Edenhope on Thursday October 31 at an event that will also highlight local mental health services.
Written and filmed in western Victoria, the film explores suicide and the unique pressures of farming and rural life.
Grampians Health community health nurse, Cath McDonald, secured grant funding for the screening, along with supper and limited beverages, as a means of building community connection and reducing stigma around mental ill-health.
Suicide prevention group, Lifeforce Edenhope, and qualified counsellor Carine Bezuidenhout, have partnered with Grampians Health to ensure attendees are informed about local support.
It is exactly the type of event Leila envisioned when she sat down to create a movie with purpose.
“This film is bigger than any of us that created it and I’m so happy to see local mental health advocates there to carry the messaging,” she said.
“The audience is taken on this massive journey, where they feel the heartache, so it helps to open up conversations once the credits roll.
“It was never meant to be something you watch, then walk out and forget; we want it to be impactful and make a difference in rural towns.”
Just A Farmer’s release lined up with one of the driest winter seasons on record, with Wimmera farmers forced to feed livestock and cart water for months on end.
“It’s very timely and we understand the struggle as much as anyone; we’re up the creek on our farm too,” Leila said.
“We’re feeding and struggling to figure out whether to sell stock or send them up north to agist.
“The farmers really need this and so many people have thanked us for making the film and having the courage to tackle such a heavy topic.”
Leila has been most surprised by the response of older men, who “have never been given permission” to consider their mental well-being.
“It’s confronting for the older blokes because it’s making them actually consider their feelings and struggles,” she said.
“People my age, in their 30s, are more accustomed to messaging about mental health.
“We’re more aware of it, but that doesn’t mean we’re addressing it.”
A requirement of hosting a community event is to limit attendees’ consumption of alcohol.
“My dad has (a bipolar disorder) so I didn’t grow up with alcohol in the house, but as a culture we really do rely on it to have fun,” Leila said.
“A lot of people who have mental health concerns turn to substance abuse and it hinders our ability to be successful people.
“There’s a character in the film who struggles with alcohol issues and that’s one of the key messages; we don’t want community events to lean on alcohol to have these discussions.”
Just A Farmer will be screened at Edenhope Community Centre, on Thursday October 31, from 6.30pm.
A $10 donation, to support Lifeforce Edenhope, is requested on entry.
Please reserve your tickets ASAP, for catering purposes, by leaving a message with all attendee names: 5585 9845
