Organised by Bega Valley Suicide Prevention Action Network (SPAN) on Saturday, it usually takes place in Bega but for the first time was held in Panboola.

Chair of SPAN Greg Miller said he was aware there was a continuing rise in suicide rates.

“For those of us that have lost someone, their memories will stay with us forever,” he said. 

Jane Hull of Bega attended the walk to honour her daughter Courtney, who died in tragic circumstances in 2010. 

“We think about her every day,” she said.

“It’s so important to keep her in our thoughts and in our hearts.” 

She said one symptom that someone was struggling was if they stop doing the things they enjoyed in life.

“The things Courtney loved and enjoyed were not there anymore, so that was a sign she was suffering but still putting on that beautiful smile,” Jane said.

“That beautiful smile; it’s just a cover up.” 

READ MORE: Walk With Us 2016 | Photos

Her daughter Bonney, who attended the walk as well, believed the stigma around mental health and suicide was changing.

“I think we’ve gotten past learning to ask people if they are okay,” she said.

“I think what we need to work on now is what to say to people who say they are not okay. Sometimes it can stop there because people don’t know how to approach it.” 

Bonney said the most important thing was that people did not have to say they understood what you were going through. 

READ MORE: Unanderra teen’s suicide shatters ones left behind

“It is really comforting to hear someone say ‘I don’t know what you are going through, but let’s organise another time we can chat’,” she said.

“From talking to a few different people who have lost someone, people who act like they understand when they don’t can be really hard.

“It’s more about saying ‘I can help you, I can try to understand’.” 

Tony Boyle of Bega also joined the walk, to honour his wife Chris who passed away last year.  

“It’s a good opportunity to contact people who are in similar situations and it’s a nice, peaceful walk,” he said. 

He described his wife as a “happy, motivated, caring person”.

Another person who attended the event was Margaret Liston of Greigs Flat. 

“We have lost a few friends to suicide, so it’s lovely SPAN is doing such great work,” she said.  

READ MORE: Suicide target should be zero: minister

Earlier this month, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Mental Health Tanya Davies announced nearly $90million for new suicide prevention initiatives during the launch of the state’s first comprehensive suicide prevention strategy.