South West Victorian communities will soon have the chance to access mental wellbeing information tailored to the needs of country-based men, at a Rabobank hosted event in Hamilton.
The ‘Blokes, BBQ & Beer’ event, which will be held on Monday, 23rd October, provides rural and remote communities with an opportunity to discuss mental health awareness in the bush. This initiative, spearheaded by the Rabo Client Council – a group of Rabobank’s farming clients who volunteer their time implementing programs that contribute to the sustainability and wellbeing of rural and regional communities – is funded by the Rabobank Community Fund.
Offered to attendees free of charge, this event will feature mental health advocates – Mary O’Brien founder of ‘Are you bogged mate?’ and Tom Boyd ex-AFL footballer and author.
Rabo Client Council member and Coleraine-based farmer Mark Bunge said mental health and wellbeing awareness is an “important conversation our rural communities need to be having – particularly for men living and working in rural areas. Mental health needs to be kept front of mind as commodity prices continue to soften and with the prospect of a drier summer, its important we keep an eye on our mates and check how they are coping.”
Mr Bunge stated that the Rabo Client Council is extremely pleased to be able to bring two mental health advocates of this calibre to Hamilton. The event’s program includes Mary O'Brien, who in 2018 established ‘Are you bogged mate?’, an initiative designed to connect country residents with lifesaving support services.
In addition to running “Are you bogged mate?”, Mary O'Brien is a Queensland spray drift risk management specialist who has spent her career working closely within rural communities. After spending her whole life working in rural and remote Australia, Mary knows country people. She’s worked with them, for them, beside them and most importantly, she knows how to talk with them. It is this down-to-earth perspective that makes ‘Are you bogged mate?’ resonate with rural and remote communities.
Tom Boyd, who will be joining Mary O’Brien at this event, believes his mental health was more important to him than football fame and success and has been helping others deal with their own mental health issues. Last year, Tom published a book – ‘Nowhere to Hide’ – that takes you on his journey. With football as the backdrop, it's a book focused on mental health, honesty with yourself and what it takes to overcome depression and anxiety, and create resilience.
The Rabo Community Fund aims to tangibly and meaningfully contribute to the vibrancy and resilience of rural Australia. The fund supports local grassroots initiatives, identified by Rabobank clients.
Event date and location details:
Monday 23 October, 2023 – 6.00pm to 9.30pm – Hamilton Golf Club, 170 Rippon Road, Hamilton – Food and drink provided – This event is for blokes only and attendance is by registration only (to assist with catering requirements).
To register attendance please click here.
Rabobank Australia & New Zealand Group is a part of the international Rabobank Group, the world’s leading specialist in food and agribusiness banking. Rabobank has more than 120 years’ experience providing customised banking and finance solutions to businesses involved in all aspects of food and agribusiness. Rabobank is structured as a cooperative and operates in 38 countries, servicing the needs of approximately 8.4 million clients worldwide through a network of more than 1000 offices and branches. Rabobank Australia & New Zealand Group is one of Australasia’s leading agricultural lenders and a significant provider of business and corporate banking and financial services to the region’s food and agribusiness sector. The bank has 90 branches throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Media contacts:
Denise Shaw
Head of Media Relations
Rabobank Australia & New Zealand
Phone: 02 8115 2744 or 0439 603 525
Email: denise.shaw@rabobank.com
Will Banks
Media Relations Manager
Rabobank Australia
Phone: 0418 216 103
Email: will.banks@rabobank.com