** MEDIA RELEASE **
GENERAL PETER COSGROVE TO HEADLINE NATIONAL SUICIDE
PREVENTION CONFERENCE IN CAIRNS
APRIL 3 2012 – Drawing on his experience in war and disaster relief such as
Cyclone Larry in 2006, retired general, Peter Cosgrove, will once again return to the
north in aid of a different cause.
Confirming his attendance at this year’s Suicide & Self-Harm Prevention Conference,
hosted by the Dr Edward Koch Foundation from June 13-15 in Cairns, the former
chief of Defence Force and 2001 Australian of Year will discuss suicide prevention in
disaster recovery areas, touching on stressors, isolation and fatigue.
The Edward Koch Foundation director and conference organiser, Dulcie Bird, said
this was an amazing coup for the conference as well as the region. “General Peter
Cosgrove is no stranger to the far north and he is known for his ability to combine the
roles of soldier and diplomat into one. In the aftermath of Cyclone Larry, his strong,
reassuring figure and his care for the social and emotional well-being of those
affected by the tragedy was recognised as an important contribution to the
successful rebuilding of the devastated communities.”
Ms Bird said general Cosgrove’s speech would draw on his experiences in war and
disaster relief such as Cyclone Tracy, the PNG tsunami in 1998, the Asian tsunami of
2004 and Cyclone Larry in 2006. “I am sure delegates can look forward to learning
from his experiences as head of the emergency aid effort in far north Queensland
after Cyclone Larry as well as his work in other disaster affected regions.”
She said his attendance would offer practical support as well as emphasise the key
role of community leaders, in addition to health professionals, in the maintenance of
mental health and community morale. This information will be particularly valuable for
those on the ground in towns located between Townsville and Cairns, which continue
to struggle with the effects of Cyclone Yasi, which hit the northern coast just over 12
months ago, in similar circumstances to Cyclone Larry in 2006.
“Cyclone Yasi imposed a further extended period of trauma on a region, which was
still in recovery from Cyclone Larry. The psychological stress resulting from Cyclone
Yasi following Larry includes the immediate shock of loss of housing, other assets
and sources of income and the longer term stress of rebuilding and recovery for a
second time.”
General Cosgrave will join Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley AC, who is a
patron of the foundation, at the conference. Ms Bird said she had spent several years
building the conference’s profile to ensure its place as a leading suicide prevention
forum in Australia.
The not-for-profit foundation is still calling for sponsorship for the three-day
conference, which will bring together researchers, practitioners, health workers, the
key players within the suicide prevention sector, those within the community and
anyone affected by suicide.
Ms Bird said suicide had become a very serious community issue and while
traditionally suicide rates have been highest among the male elderly, rates among
young people have also been increasing. She said the rise has been so significant
that youths are now the group at highest risk in a third of countries, in both developed
and developing countries.
For more information, contact Dulcie Bird, on 0409 765 305
ENDS
Publicity: Tanya Snelling, Libra Communications
M: 0411 602 663 E: tanya@libracommunications.com.au
About General Peter Cosgrove
General Peter John Cosgrove AC, MC (born 28 July 1947) is a retired Australian Army officer.
He was the chief of the Defence Force from July 3, 2002 to July 3, 2005, when he retired from
active service. On March 23, 2006 Cosgrove was selected to lead the Queensland
Government taskforce of rebuilding communities damaged by Cyclone Larry, a category five
tropical cyclone that devastated the Innisfail region of northern Queensland. In recognition of
the important contribution general Cosgrove made to the community of north Queensland
following Cyclone Larry, on October 11, 2008 Queensland Premier Anna Bligh announced
that the new residential suburb in the Bohle Plains area of Townsville would be named
Cosgrove.
About the Dr Edward Koch Foundation
The Dr Edward Koch Foundation is a non-profit organisation, established to focus and
support public health activities in north Queensland. It was registered as a public company
with limited liability on 26 March 1997, but its first project was approved and funded in
October 1996. The Foundation is closely associated with Queensland Health's Tropical
Population Health Unit, the University of Queensland Cairns Campus, and James Cook
University. Foundation Objectives include promoting and initiating innovative preventative
and educational programs to improve the health of the community and supporting and
conducting health research and development projects