The Danny Frawley Centre has had an immediate impact on someone's mental health.
It's already given Anita Frawley a feeling of joy, something she lost when her husband died suddenly in September, 2019.
She has hailed the first stage of the centre, officially opened on Tuesday, as a new start for herself and their daughters Chelsea, Danielle and Keeley.
Anita was asked how she felt when she entered the completed $16m centre at the Moorabbin home of AFL club St Kilda, where her late husband is a revered figure.
"Just pride, absolute pride and joy," she said.
"I suppose I haven't felt a lot of joy for a long while, and I did just feel genuine joy for such an amazing building and something Danny's name is associated with."
Mental health will be the prime focus of the centre, which will be open to the community as well as boosting the Saints' facilities.
It was a cause that Danny Frawley had championed as he struggled with his own issues in the years before his tragic death.
Anita and her daughters chose the photo of Danny that has been made into a feature mural in the centre.
"It not only bears his name but it does really encompass Danny," Anita said of the centre.
"I get teary every time I walk in - this is a new beginning for the girls and I. The last two-and-a-half years, it's almost like we've survived."
She hopes what the Frawleys have endured over the last two-and-a-half years can serve as an example.
"Losing someone so tragically, it has been horrific and there are plenty of other families out there going through the same thing," Anita said.
"We want to be able to let them know you can survive if you get the right help.
"We're going to be scarred for the rest of our life, there's no doubt ... but for the first time it's like a new beginning."
Typical of Danny, there was plenty of humour along with emotion and poignancy at Tuesday's launch.
Among the attendees were his great friends, fellow AFL figures Jason Dunstall and Garry Lyon.
Anita noted that if Frawley could speak from beyond the grave, he'd be bragging to them about what had been created in his memory.
"I don't think he had any idea it would be as big as this," Anita said.
"Absolutely, he would be telling Chief (Dunstall) and Garry and the boys 'look what I've got, finally'.
"This is going to be here forever, it will certainly outlive all of us."
Chelsea and Danielle were also at the launch, while Keeley is in the United States.
The new facility features a pool and hydro pool as well as other community health facilities, plus a 1000-seat grandstand.
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, plus film star and prominent St Kilda fan Eric Bana were at the opening ceremony.
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.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Australian Associated Press
