This week we tragically lost David Boyd from our Bellarine and Storm basketball family.

The Bellarine Peninsula Basketball Association wishes to extend our sympathies and support to all that knew Dave and his family.

As an association we want to take this opportunity to make sure our members know how important they are to us, and that we will provide what support we can over this difficult period.

We understand that parents are concerned about how their children might process this sad news and for this reason have included some information which may be helpful for families.

We also understand that while we are worrying about our kids, we sometimes forget to look after ourselves. There are links below for support services that can assist you in working through grief as well as how to support your kids through this time.

Support can come from anywhere, from friends, family and the wider community.  Schools offer great support through wellbeing teams and network staff who are all aware of what has happened in our community. If you are worried about your kids please take the time to contact their school.  Another great place to start is with your family GP who can link you in with local support services.

There are a couple of online resources available to help you understand how your Children may be processing things at this time:

• Trauma and Teens - the Better Health channel has some good stuff on it.
• Headspace as most of you know operates out of Geelong. There are a heap of fact sheets online. I have attached one about grief.

Additional services can be found through:

• Bellarine Community Health Service (ph: 5258 0812)
• Headspace (ph: 5251 5088)
• Eheadspace (ph: 1800 650 890)
• Barwon Health (ph: 1300 094 187)
• Kids helpline (ph: 1800 551 800)
• Lifeline  (ph: 13 11 14)
• CATHOLIC CARE(ph: 5221 7055) - provide grief and trauma counselling (62 McKillop St, Geelong) - mention you are from Bellarine Peninsula Basketball Association.
• If you are not sure where to start call BATForce on 5221 4339

 

We know the Boyd Family are well connected across many parts of the community and that people will want to help in whatever way they can. We need to be mindful of the journey the family are undertaking and give them their privacy at this time. Anyone wishing to help out is welcome to call the association where we will do what we can to coordinate any support that comes from BPBA members.

In closing, it is difficult to imagine life ever getting back to normal at this time.

It eventually will.  It will simply be a different kind of normal for many of us.

 

Take care of yourselves and your families and please give us a call if you need to.

 

Staff & Committee

Bellarine Peninsula Basketball Association Inc.