Henry O’Sullivan is discovering Macedon Ranges’ creatives and what makes them tick.
The Kyneton YouTuber explores people’s creative pursuits while discussing strategies to build positive mental health through his channel Crafting Good Health.
“The goal was to create a space that fosters creativity, destigmatises mental health conversations, and showcases some of our amazing local crafters,” he told the Express.
Whether he’s tearing up phonebooks to make recycled paper or creating his own kokedama, Henry is eager to traverse new territory with a good sense of humour.
Working shoulder to shoulder with crafters, he moves with ease between the crafting projects at hand to the lesser broadcast subjects in life surrounding mental health.
Henry has spoken to ‘freak bike creators’ about the importance of mindfulness, to face-painters about the realities of post-partum depression, to knitters about creating adventure, and gardeners about resilience.
Some of those to share his platform include Ian from Oxart Pottery, Rhain from the Old Auction House Kyneton, Heather from Art Weaver Studio, and the Story Costumer from Trentham.
“I started this video series as a way to have conversations with other people about mental health and each other’s passions, and it became a learning experience in many ways I didn’t expect,” Henry said.
After coping through Melbourne’s lockdown of 2020, Henry and his partner Angela purchased a property in Kyneton and moved there, excited for change.
For Henry, it was a return to the Ranges where he had grown up and had admired the creative and supportive culture. The move was a chance for him to find his creative project.
“I had found the Melbourne lockdowns difficult, socially isolating as I couldn’t connect with others, and restrictive in regards to creating the things that give me joy,” he said.
The 29-year-old teacher said everyone’s life had been somehow affected by mental health, but often the stigma around talking about how we felt prevented us from sharing with the people around us.
“Meeting together to play a game, creating food to share with others, organising a time to try new experiences – whatever our passions are they can be a conduit to provide us the opportunity to talk about mental health and support the people around us,” he said.
“One of my favourite questions to ask someone I meet for the first time is: ‘What are you passionate about?’. Hearing people explain what they enjoy creating and why, is a privilege that never fails to excite me.”
Henry and his team are keen to feature more individuals and businesses from the Macedon Ranges and encourage them to make contact via email: craftinggoodhealth@gmail.com
Subscribe to his channel to watch the videos as they’re uploaded – you’re bound to see someone you know!
