Danny Frawley’s family has hailed the new mental health centre bearing his name as a new beginning and an important legacy for the AFL captain and coach.
The $16 million first stage of the centre was opened on Tuesday at St Kilda’s Moorabbin headquarters, two-and-a-half years after the ground hosted a community farewell for the much-loved Saints player.
Frawley died suddenly in September 2019 after struggling with mental health issues.
He had been advocating for better mental health support and services.
Frawley’s wife Anita and two of their daughters, Chelsea and Danielle, helped launch the centre. His other daughter Keeley is in the United States.
“I’m very proud, very emotional – it’s a sad day, but kind of the girls and I, it’s very much a new beginning,” Anita said.
“The last two-and-a-half years, as survivors of what we went through, we could not have gotten through without the support of family and friends, but also the support of psychologists.
“We are living proof that you, we, need that support – we need everyone in the community to be able to access support.”
Chelsea works at St Kilda and Anita said Danielle aims to become a psychologist.
The centre, which was announced in November 2020, features a giant photo mural of Frawley.
“It brings tears to my eyes every time, because the girls and I spent a lot of time choosing that photo,” Anita said.
“When you look at it, you see that this man has been through pain and he has empathy in his eyes. You see the vulnerability in there.”
The new facility features a pool and a hydro pool as well as other community health facilities, plus a 1000-seat grandstand.
Frawley’s long-time friends and prominent AFL figures Garry Lyon and Jason Dunstall attended the launch, along with AFL chairman Richard Goyder, chief executive Gillon McLachlan, former Saints captain Nick Riewoldt, federal senator Jane Hume and state ministers Martin Pakula and Martin Foley.
Film star and prominent St Kilda fan Eric Bana was also at the function.
After captaining St Kilda in his 240-game career, Frawley coached Richmond to the 2001 preliminary final and was an AFL TV and radio commentator.
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