HUNDREDS packed into Rock in the Park on the weekend to celebrate 30 years of the sound shell, with over $4000 being raised for Spark, a grassroots Swan Hill charity which raises awareness for suicide and mental health.
Event organiser Bec Martin said it was an amazing atmosphere and invoked a sense of nostalgia for many.
“I remember going to Rock in the Park when I would’ve been eight or nine, and all through after that because mum and dad were musos,” Ms Martin said.
“Having so many musicians from the area who performed at the sound shell 30 years ago up on stage again was really special.
“Seeing so many familiar faces that I didn’t know were coming along just to support us was incredible.”
Ms Martin is the daughter of old-school Swan Hill rockers Fred and Sue Turner.
Mr Turner is heralded by many as ‘the godfather’ of the Swan Hill music scene and has taught multiple generations of guitarists who took to the stage on Saturday.
“A lot of the guys playing in the bands on the day, I’d taught them how to play guitar when they were half the size,” Mr Turner said with a laugh.
“The funny part is most of them are better than me now, but I’m proud of that.
“I remember them when they were really young, and I’ve taught a lot of their kids how to play now as well.”
In a touching moment of shared intergenerational passion, Mr and Mrs Turner played a rendition of Something in the Water on stage with their grandchildren Jackson, Tyler, Alex and her fiance Matt.
“There was no rehearsal, but it all came together really well,” Mr Turner said.
“It was a very special moment, quite the family affair,” Mrs Turner said.
All proceeds from the day went to Spark, which was formed after Mr and Mrs Turner’s son, Dan Turner, died by suicide in 2022.
The Turners said they hoped the money raised would mean others may not experience the devastating loss of a loved one.
Ms Martin was Dan’s older sister and said the majority of the money raised would go to Swan Hill District Health to run community focused mental health training programs.
A smaller portion of the money is going to StandBy Support After Suicide, which provides support to grieving families after the suicide of a loved one.
“StandBy helped us understand a lot more about what happened, and the process that we’ll go through,” Ms Martin said.
“They made a lot of follow up phone calls just to make sure that we were okay.
“Dan had a real funny personality, and he’d be the first person to step in and help us out if I ever had something going on.
“He was never one to ask for help himself, but in those situations you should never be afraid to reach out.”
Anyone requiring urgent help can call Lifeline’s 24-hour number, 131 114.
For crisis support call Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636, headspace on 1800 975 115, or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
