Staying safe is reachable goal

Lesley Elliot.

Lesley Elliott, whose daughter was brutally murdered by a former boyfriend, will point out warning signs of unsafe relationships during a public meeting at Maungaturoto next week.

She and others will address an It Is OK To Help workshop at Otamatea High School hall from 7-9pm on Wednesday. The free event will be funded by Rural Women NZ with the Ministry of Social Development, and the local It's Not OK campaign.

After the tragic death of her daughter, Sophie, who was stabbed 218 times by her former boyfriend in Dunedin in 2008, Mrs Elliott set up the Sophie Elliott Foundation to raise awareness among all young people, their friends, families and the community of the signs of partner abuse.

For her work Mrs Elliott was made a member of the NZ Order of Merit in this year's Queen's Birthday honours.

Libby Jones, of Paparoa, who advocates for healthy communities in Northland and is a local It's Not OK champion, says the evening at Otamatea High School is aimed at teenagers, their parents and other community members "so we all know what to look out for to help keep our young people safe".

While the emphasis will be on young people, the impact of depression and financial woes on older country people will also be examined.

Following the high school workshop, Maungaturoto's It Is OK To Help group will meet from 9.30am until noon at Maungaturoto Country Club on Bickerstaffe Rd so health, education, social service, police and community workers can learn more about helpers for safe relationships and what other communities are doing to keep people safe.

For more details or to register for the Country Club meeting call Libby Jones on (09) 431 6822.

-Farmstrong, the newest rural wellbeing scheme, was a huge hit at Mystery Creek, with 70 farmers getting free health checks and 376 testing their physical health in the Fit4Farming bike challenge.