100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

'Committed to making a difference': venue manager tackles push-up challenge

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

Top chef to steer award-winning food festival

A renowned Sunshine Coast chef will take on a key role for a bumper nine-day food festival next year. Peter Kuruvita will be the culinary More

Photo of the day: spring bloom

“My Melaleuca thymifolia is putting on a show with its first spring flowers,” writes Maureen Brook. If you have a photo of the day offering, More

Kokoda Track veteran celebrates 103rd birthday

A World War II veteran who served on the Kokoda Track has celebrated his 103rd birthday, and been hailed for his contribution. Kawana Waters RSL More

Coast roughie stuns to win nation’s great race

A longshot from the Sunshine Coast has caused a sensation in the Melbourne Cup, providing local trainer Sheila Laxon with a long-awaited second win More

Shipwreck’s slow farewell: removal of steamer ongoing

The removal of a shipwreck at a closed section of beach is proving to be a “complex and time-consuming process”. The S.S. Dicky, which ran More

Key $40m energy project set to light the way

An Australian-first $40 million project on the Sunshine Coast is set to pave the way for Queensland’s renewable energy transition. A Local Renewable Energy Zone More

For the fourth year in a row, Justin Lippiatt is participating in the nationwide Push-Up Challenge initiative to raise awareness of mental health and funds for Lifeline.

The general manager of Yandina Station aims to complete 3249 push-ups alongside his colleagues in honour of the 3000-plus Australian lives lost to suicide in 2022.

Mr Lippiatt has completed more than 1700 push-ups so far.

He said his focus this year had shifted from those struggling with addiction to youths, saying “they have unprecedented access to technology and social media, exposing them to the good, the bad and the ugly”.

“In the last decade, self-harm among 10- to 14-year-olds has increased by 300 per cent,” he said.

Related story: Why this bank manager is doing 3144 push-ups

“In 2022, one-third of all suicides in Australia were among people aged 15 to 24, and 10 per cent of 14- to15-year-olds self-harmed last year, with 5 per cent attempting suicide.

“We need to be doing something for the younger people and I am conscious of the social pressures that they are under.”

He also recently teamed up with MIX FM’s Mark and Caroline at an open broadcast at White’s IGA in Forest Glen, encouraging others to join the Push-Up Challenge and support Lifeline.

Justin Lippiatt is aiming to complete 3249 push-ups. Picture: Elk and Fir Photography

Mr Lippiatt is also actively involved in the business community as the vice-president of the 4556 Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the 2032 Olympics Task Force Environment and Sustainability Committee.

He is also a director with Sober in the Country, an organisation supporting rural Australians struggling with addiction. The charity’s support service, Bush Tribe, is a private online peer group with 700 members, providing help and directing individuals with addiction issues to professional counselling services.

Mr Lippiatt, who has been sober for 26 years, has raised $200 towards his $500 goal since the challenge began on June 5, and more than $1000 in total since he started participating four years ago.

“It’s a cause that needs more attention, and I am committed to making a difference,” he said.

“Every push-up is dedicated to supporting a young person struggling with mental health.”

This year’s challenge runs until June 28. To donate click here.

Like stories about Sunshine Coast people doing great things? Help us deliver more by registering for our FREE daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email at the bottom of this article.

Subscribe to SCN’s free daily news email

Hidden
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
[scn_go_back_button] Return Home
Share