TELFO
ANYONE involved in the car scene at any depth would be aware that mental health is a serious problem for our community. Most of the time, the issue lurks under the surface unnoticed, until one of our own dies by suicide. As a community, we react with shock and grief, but are quick to rally around the family, talk about the issue and encourage anyone in our circle who is suffering to reach out. All of which is a massive improvement on what used to happen, as our society as a whole comes to better understand mental health, reduce the stigma around it and treat is as the health issue it is.
Even so, we’ve got a long way to go. Raising awareness and improving understanding is great, but the next step for anyone who is having dramas with mental health is to get some help. And the fact is that there just isn’t anything like enough services to cater for people in distress. This is particularly true in rural areas, but in many places across the country, the only location a person in acute need can turn to is a hospital emergency department, which is far from ideal.
Experts in the area that I’ve spoken to tell me that the whole mental health system needs a complete overhaul, but it seems unlikely that the political will exists to get the job done any time soon. That leaves us in the street machine community wondering what we can do to make a difference and not succumb to hopelessness. There are no easy solutions, but I’m starting to think that a powerful way to make a positive impact is by providing help to mental health services that already exist in our local communities. Find out who is doing good work on the frontline and help them with funding.
A great example of this is what Jason Earl and the team from Sugar City Burnouts in Mackay pulled off last month. “We were in the middle of organising our first burnout comp at Palmyra Dragway when the news came through that we’d lost Nik Fraser of MELTEM Corolla fame,” says Jason. “I’d spent a bit of time with him and he was a great guy. Nik didn’t hide the fact that he struggled with his mental health and was outspoken about the fact that blokes needed to speak up about it. So I was really shocked and devastated when he passed away. It happens too often, but it’s hard to know what to do about it.
“Then a mate of mine suggested we talk to the crew that runs the local ute muster. Turns out, the ute muster raises funds for the Grapevine Group, which is a local organisation in Mackay that provides free suicide prevention training. So we raffled off some rides at our first event and raised enough money to train 34 support workers. It felt great to be able to do something that will make a difference in the real world.”
Next year, Jason and the team are upping the ante with a new event dubbed the Sugar City Powerfest, adding a show ’n’ shine, drags, powerskids and dyno to the menu. The event is booked in for 18-20 September and Jason is hoping the bigger and broader event can raise even more money for the Grapevine Group.
This is just one example of groups of street machiners getting together to make a difference. Entrants at the recent Thrashernats also auctioned off rides to raise funds for Nik’s family, and the Southern
HAVE A POKE AROUND YOUR LOCAL AREA AND I’LL BET YOU CAN FIND A GROUP THAT IS DOING GREAT WORK WITH MENTAL HEALTH THAT CAN USE YOUR HELP
Union crew raised over $11,000 at their recent Bannockburn Custom Car & Bike Show. This was donated to the Soldier On organisation, which provides health, employment and other services to those who have served in the Defence Forces. There are many other examples around the country and it would be great to see many more, big and small. Have a poke around your local area and I’ll bet you can find a group that is doing great work with mental health that can use your help.
For our part, we’ve got plans for some fundraising during Street Machine Drag Challenge, 11-15 November, so keep your eyes out for that.
If you are having trouble with your mental health, please don’t ignore it – let your family and friends know and speak to your doctor. And if you’re in distress, call up one of the 24-hour support services, such as Lifeline (13 11 14) or Mensline Australia (1300 789 978). Younger folks can call the Kids Helpline (1800 551 800) or Headspace (1800 650 890). If you’re in New Zealand, s call Lifeline (0508 828 865).