Memorial corroboree in honour of Hunter teenager Brady Flaus to raise awareness of mental health support

The corroboree, to be held at Kurri Kurri TAFE from 4pm on July 4, will mark the anniversary of the death of 14-year-old Brady Flaus.

"It has been a year since Brady left, and we still have kids ringing and talking to us who are still upset and feeling lost," Brady's mother, Jacqui Flaus, said. "We want to raise awareness and let them know that there are people who are listening. We don't want to rattle cages, but we want to make sure everyone is still aware that these kids are still feeling horrible and lost, and that not a lot seems to have changed."

Mrs Flaus said suicide was "way more prevalent" than most people realised.

"It's not just a kid having a bad day, these are kids having a really tough time, and no one is exempt from feeling like this," she said. "It's not just kids, but adults too."

Mrs Flaus said they had been told there would be a coronial inquest into Brady's death to determine what "could have, would have, should have" been done.

Memorial organiser and Maitland Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group member, Pauline Mitchell, said there were mental health organisations who worked in conjunction with children, teenagers and their families.

"But that community support is strong when you have families come on board who have actually been through this too, like Danny and Jacqui Flaus," she said.

"Time heals a little bit, but it's never going to take away the pain of a loss like that.

"It'll always be with them, and walking right behind them is a lot of other kids and families who are screaming out for help as well. Our kids and our communities are very important, and if we can give something to them to let them know we are there for them, and more than happy to help them, then at least they can make that contact so we can get that ball rolling to help."

Memorial entry is by gold coin donation. There will be dancing, food, and raffles.

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