Cricketing legend Brad Hogg will attend a number of important community events at the Elmore Field Days next week,to help raise greater awareness about mental health and suicide prevention.
The Victorian leg of Brad’s 2023 ‘Take-a-Break’ tour – encouraging farmers to get away from the farm, to stay mentally and physically fit, fresh and healthy – will be highlighted by his keynote talk at a sundowner event in Bendigo, shared with the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF).
Brad is National Ambassador of Grain Producers Australia’s Farmer Mates Mental Health initiative which partners GPA – and State Members such as the VFF – along with Nufarm, Rural Aid, Lifeline and GrainGrowers, to help make a difference.
Pic: Brad Hogg with GrainGrowers and Rural Aid team members at the Yorke Peninsula Field Days last week.
GPA is also proud to have the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s support for this important program, including field days and other events.
Brad was born and raised on a wheat and sheep farm in WA, and is passionate about raising greater awareness of mental health and suicide prevention in rural communities. He will support the following engagement activities during the Elmore Field Days:
Day One (Tuesday, October 3)
· From 8.30am with National Centre for Farmer Health – Agriculture Victoria tent at site 349.
· From 6pm WFI Sundowner (VFF) Boatshed Room, Lakeview Hotel, Bendigo.
Day Two (Wednesday, October 4)
· From 8.30am with Weekly Times: AP.42 Agri Business Pavilion.
GPA Chair and WA grain producer, Barry Large, said Brad’s attendance at field day events shared with GPA’s State Members throughout Australia, along with professional support provided by members of Rural Aid’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Team, was having a genuine impact.
“The theme of this year’s program is all about encouraging farmers and anyone involved in the farming business to remember we all need to plan to get away and take a break,” he said.
“To show how serious we are about these issues, GPA is running a new competition with up to $5000 in travel prizes, to help provide some inspirational thinking about where to take a break.
“We want this competition to encourage everyone to start thinking and planning for some time away from the farm, which is a great investment in better health and wellbeing for everyone.
“GPA is extremely proud to have great support from a strong team that’s backing this important initiative, led by Nufarm.”
Enter GPA Holiday Getaway HERE
IMPORTANT RESOURCES
· Rural Aid’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Team HERE
· GPA’s Farmer Mates Mental Health initiative HERE
· Lifeline’s 24/7 telephone crisis support service is available on 13 11 14
· Mental Health and Wellbeing Team intake line 1300 17 55 94 - Head Office 1300 327 624
· Ducks on the Pond Podcast ‘Convincing your partner (or yourself!) to go on a holiday’ HERE
· Brad Hogg Video Message HERE
· GrainGrowers Farm Safety and Grower Wellbeing Information
ENDS
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