Lifeline Hunter Central Coast (LLHCC) has formed a new panel of volunteer Hunter community ambassadors to help it to raise awareness of suicide prevention and promote its services in the local area.

New Regional Manager and former Board Chair, Robert Sams said the panel will initially comprise local business people who were former board members. Rob said over time it will grow to include other interested community members.

The new community ambassadors are:

Peter Coughlan – business mentor.
Chris Liddell – an entrepreneur with a social conscience.
Brad Luke – Newcastle City Councillor and financial advisor
Amy-Lea Pettigrew – Executive from Pettigrew Family Funerals and local community ambassador for Relay for Life and the Cancer Council.
Gillian Summers – former LLHCC CEO and businesswoman.

The new group follows some administrative changes for LLHCC as it joins other Lifeline centres to be part of a broader umbrella group that will share some back end and administrative services.

Rob said this will mean even more locally raised funds can go directly to local suicide prevention services such as counselling, training and support groups.

He said this change means there is no longer a local Lifeline board, hence the formation of the new group.

“Over time the panel will grow to include others in the local community who are interested in supporting Lifeline’s work in Newcastle and the Hunter,” Rob said.

“We still operate independently and serve our local community, we just enjoy the benefits of a shared administrative function.

“We are grateful to have such a dedicated panel of people who will help our team to gain ideas and support from the business and broader community.”

Former CEO Gillian Summers said she was thrilled to continue to be involved in the great work Lifeline does to save lives. She stepped down from her role six weeks ago to run her Carrington-based manufacturing family business.

“The other ambassadors and I are looking forward to volunteering to help with events, fund raising ideas and opening connections to the business and broader community,” Gillian said.

Lifeline Hunter Central Coast estimates it saves around 5,000 lives a year and provides hope and support to thousands of others. It relies on community support to fund more than 55 per cent of its local suicide prevention services.

IMAGE | Rob Sams(top left) with the new Ambassador panel and LLHCC marketing and fundraising team members.