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    SUPPORT: R U OK? Day representatives Shirley Semmens, Neil Murdoch, Dan Moore, Rebecca Wood, Phil Maher and Garry Semmens were in Stawell last week to promote R U OK? and its work around giving people the confidence and skills to have a meaningful conversation with someone who might be struggling. Picture: BRONWYN HASTINGS

Conversation R U OK? convoy visits Stawell

30 October 2024

Stawell’s community hosted the R U OK? Conversation Convoy last week, which is visiting regional areas across Australia to share the suicide prevention charity’s public health promotion of helping each other through difficult times.

Marketing manager Rebecca Wood said the convoy left Sydney on September 4.

“R U OK? is in town at the moment on day 51 of the convoy – we’re travelling from Sydney and will go through to Tasmania and then back up the coast of New South Wales to Canberra,” she said.

“We’ve been stopping off at regional and remote communities along the way, just to encourage everyone to look out for each other and to recognise the signs that someone in their life might be struggling.”



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Ms Wood said Stawell residents took part in a community workshop to go through the steps of how to ask R U OK? in a genuine way.

“It’s also a workshop on brainstorming ways that people within the community can make R U OK? every day in a way that works right for them, so there’s no right or wrong way to do it, but we do encourage people to do it for whatever works for them,” she said.

A crew of four is travelling by road and has a caravan that is used as an incidental counselling space.

“The caravan is a beautiful safe space if anyone is really struggling. We have trained people here who can go in and have a chat as well,” Ms Wood said.

Born from a lived experience, R U OK? was a question championed by Gavin Larkin in 2009 in a bid to protect other families from the grief his family endured after his father died by suicide in 1995. 

The R U OK? conversation movement continues as Mr Larkin’s legacy – he lost his life to cancer in 2011.

People can find more information about the convoy, mental health resources and an expression of interest form to host a convoy event at www.ruok.org.au.

• If you, or anyone you know, needs help, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, 13YARN on 13 92 76, MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. In an emergency, call triple zero.

– Bronwyn Hastings

The entire October 30, 2024 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire October, 30, 2024 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!