Somewhere over the rainbow, dreams of belonging really do come true

A bit like Dorothy’s iconic slippers in The Wizard of Oz, Mitch Steed’s ruby red sneakers could be symbolic of the transformative magic happening in Helensburgh.

They certainly pop at the Flame’s sunset photo shoot.

We're gathered to capture the moment a historic coal mining town sets out to become more inclusive. Representatives from the Salvos, the neighbourhood forum, Coalcliff surf club and several other groups are joining Equilibrium Healthcare in an initiative to connect residents, with a focus on newcomers, young people, the LGBTQI+ community, and neurodivergent individuals. 

Mitch – whose day job is as Burgh Healthy Hub manager – has set up an independent not-for-profit website called Hello Villages, a digital gathering place that builds on the energy generated by Equilibrium founder Dr Trevor Kemper.

“I'm a very big supporter of mental health initiatives,” says Mitch, who attended both of the GP's public forums and spoke up about his experiences as part of the LGBTQI+ and neurodivergent communities. 

“I saw a similar thing was coming up for other people, where they felt isolated, like there was nothing that represented them.”

Loneliness peaked during the pandemic but remains a public health concern, increasing the risk of depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease and dementia. It’s dubbed ‘Australia’s silent killer’, with more than 1 in 10 people experiencing social isolation, according to 2024 analysis by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 

Growing up in a small town is notoriously tough for those who don’t fit the mould. Mitch is 41 but clearly remembers the feeling of being an outsider when he first moved from the Blue Mountains to Stanwell Park at age 12.

“When I was when I was growing up, the LGBTQI+ community having visibility was still something that was being developed. It was very, very unlikely that people came out in high school – lots of bullying around that as well. I was already an outsider because I'd barely seen a beach before. I wasn't into like the surf culture and all that stuff.”

After graduating from Engadine High School, he moved to Sydney and built a thriving career in fashion and hospitality. He ran a men’s label, dressed models for the runway and became adept at calling fashion shows (“you choreograph the music, the lighting and the timing for the models to walk in and out, which was very fun”). 

“I used to produce and run aspects of Fashion Week," Mitch says. "I've always been a bit of a go-getter; trying to start things if things weren't available. I started my own magazine and published it. I ran Alchemy for several years, where I focused on emerging talent and tried to fight my way into that very tough industry.”

When glossy magazine advertising dried up, he turned to teaching at FBI Fashion College in Glebe, then did a stint in hospitality, where he discovered a talent for connecting communities to help businesses grow.

Missing friends and family, he moved home two years ago. “There was an opportunity at Glenbernie Orchard, where my brother is the operations manager. I really enjoyed it out there. It was a change of life, breath of fresh air.”

However, late last year Glenbernie farmer Glenn Fahey suddenly fell ill, diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. He died in July, a loss mourned by hundreds of people, including close friends, old schoolmates, volunteer firefighters, musicians and MPs, who joined the Fahey family for Glenn's celebration of life on the farm in August. 

“It was really sad,” Mitch says. “One thing I learnt from them in particular was that generosity of community. They were incredibly giving and generous with their time and that is something that I wanted to keep maintaining wherever I went.”

Mitch now manages Burgh Healthy Hub, intent on building their group fitness programs. “The team here are amazing. They do a great job,” he says. “But the next thing is finding a way to make people feel that they can step into a gym, that they do belong in a gym, no matter where they're from.

“I was one of those people – I was terrified of coming to a gym. I grew up around here as a teenager, and it wasn't the best for me. So I was worried about those similar things as an adult repeating. But it's actually the opposite.

"A lot of the people who are scary looking in the gym are the softest bunnies and very approachable.”

In October, Mitch will be backing Equilibrium’s mental health campaign to “seek, connect, move”. Through his new Hello Villages website, he dreams of building a more inclusive, connected community, one that supports everything from run clubs to writers clubs. 

“It could be an LGBTQI+ group that we're unaware of," he says. "It could be an activity in the neurodivergence space that caters to their needs.”

Mitch knows there’s a need for Hello Villages because it's something he would have liked.

“I was living in the city,” he says, “but when I came back here, I felt very kind of disconnected and isolated. 

“So I did like a post on TikTok, and I did like a call-out to lonely readers and writers in the area, specifically down this way between Helensburgh and Thirroul, saying I'd love to organise some catch-ups … and it went viral. I got 11,500 views on that, and I got a lot of people reaching out personally saying they'd love to be a part of it. 

"That was my first stepping stone to realising I can actually build communities locally.”

His vision for the website is to not only promote events but teach skills via a mentoring scheme for young people, including the growing number of 20-somethings around town, a trend he’s noticed at Burgh gym.

“We'll be mentoring them on how to do marketing, event management, running it as like a small business, and giving them those skills that's going to help them get into the workforce.”

For more information, visit the Hello Villages website.

Campaign to launch in October

Equilibrium Healthcare’s Mental Health Month initiative is titled "Seek. Connect. Move". It will launch in October and encourage everyone to:

• SEEK – ask for help earlier, don't wait until you're in crisis 
• CONNECT – develop meaningful relationships and find places in the community where you genuinely belong.
• MOVE – enjoy regular, enjoyable physical activity, ideally with opportunities for social connection.