Barton up for award

GP down south chairman David Barton has been nominated for the WA Regional Achievement and Community RAC Volunteering Award.

The awards, which have been issued since 2002, encourage, acknowledge and reward the valuable contributions individuals, communities and businesses are making throughout regional and rural Western Australia.

Nominated for his outstanding contribution and positive impact to the lives of others and their community, Mr Barton has worn many different hats.

Mr Barton was the co-founder and inaugural chairman of CinefestOz, helping shape a major event delivering positive cultural and economic benefit to the region.

He is also the catalyst in bringing The Man Walk to Busselton and regional WA, a regular Monday morning walk welcoming men of all ages to encourage regular activity, promote discussion and foster social connections.

As well as this, he also coordinated the installation of the Strong Roots Blue Tree Project which is part of a nationwide initiative to de-stigmatise mental health and improve suicide awareness.

Mr Barton has helped raise more than $10,000 for the Blue Tree Initiative’s affiliated non-profit groups.

“It’s very humbling to be nominated for this award,” Mr Barton said.

“Over the period of COVID-19, the strain and stress on people’s wellbeing really came into focus and there has been a positive response to men’s health space.

“The Man Walk Busselton offers a great opportunity to address the challenges with men’s health and mental wellbeing which I think is an under recognised issue in the community.

“None of these things work on their own, it’s a matter of working as a team and I have been lucky enough to be able to use my contacts to initiate some of these things.”