Not just a day for raising money, the group also hopes to raise awareness.

Scone Rotarian Lindy Hunt said an event like this is important because of the number of people, one in five, who are effected by mental health issues.

“What is really concerning is the increasing number of young people who are experiencing mental health issues,” she told the Hunter Valley News.

“We need to find ways to prevent this early onset and support young people to be strong, resilient and happy to be who they are.”

Money donated will go to the Australian Rotary Health foundation which funds research into mental health.

Some ideas for hat day include hosting a special function to fundraise or wearing your hat to work and donating, and people around Scone will be carrying donation buckets.

“Any old hat will do, especially those most loved ones, or a special hat with a great deal of significance to the person, a fun hat, a miners hat, a jockeys cap- they'll all be part of the fun,” Ms Hunt said.

“The Upper Hunter Youth Council was formed as a result of surveys around mental health for young people across the Upper Hunter – hence the reason they are fully supporting this initiative.

“Scone High School is a Mind Matters school and we have done a lot of work in the past on resilience and student wellbeing.

“We are also involving students in workshops and activities conducted by Beyond Blue and the Black Dog Institute during October - mental health month.”

Hat Day is a project of the Australian Rotary Health Foundation.

For more information about Rotary, or to register your interest, contact Lindy on 6545 1455 or Scone Rotary president Margaret on 6545 2251.