Asingle wind turbine near Lake Bonney attracted the attention of onlookers on Sunday evening in a moving tribute to suicide awareness and mental health.

Illuminated in blue light, the event attracted a crowd of more than 60 who arrived before sunset in anticipation of the spectacle.

The event was hosted by the Wattle Range Suicide Prevention Network as part of a series of events coinciding with R U OK? Day, which was held last week.

A special filter was used to illuminate the Canunda Wind Farm structure and was a follow-up to a private event held earlier this year.

Network secretary Marg Chapple was invited to the private light show along with chairperson Des Noll and treasurer Ben Gower.

After gaining widespread community attention the group was prompted to replicate the event, this time extending the invitation to the public.

“The conversation came up how good the wind turbine looked, so we wanted to replicate that again,” Mrs Chapple said.

She said the colour blue represented mental health.

“When people are struggling with mental health, they have a ‘blue’ day and are considered feeling blue,” Mrs Chapple said.

Mrs Chapple considered the evening a great success and thanked a number of supporters for offering their assistance, particularly the team at Vestas.

“It was a perfect location. A huge thank you goes to Vestas for inspiring us and organising everything that needed to be done to make it happen,” Mrs Chapple said.

Another supporter of the event was Tracey Wanganeen from Standby Support After Suicide.

Attendees were presented with a practical four step R U OK? Guide to asking if someone is okay.

The four steps start with asking if someone is okay, followed by listening, encouraging action and checking in.

“We all have mental health. It’s not just about mental illness,” Ms Wanganeen said.

More than 30 blue beanies were generously hand knitted and donated by the Millicent Craft Group with proceeds going to the Network.

Mrs Chapple said beanies were still available at Alternate Life in Millicent.

Meanwhile Millicent Shares a Plate provided hot minestrone soup with funds raised being returned to the organisation.

In future the Network is hopeful to light up other local landmarks with the blue theme to continue raising awareness of mental health.

The initial concept of lighting up the wind turbine was initiated by Vestas service technician John Hutchinson to highlight mental health.

“My initial thought was to have one turbine blue among 130 turbines, to have one standing out, a bit like mental health,” he said.

“Often you do not notice if someone needs to be helped out.

“It’s good to bring the topic up, it’s about sparking those kinds of conversations,” he said.

The network is also holding its last Conversations About Suicide workshop this Sunday (September 18).

This is the final call for interested persons to take part in the free workshops raising awareness of a major and preventable cause of death.

For more information and to register email wattlerangespn@gmail.com or contact the WRSPN on Facebook.