Mates coming together to support Fraser Coast

THE TRAGEDY of suicide through a mental health illness impacts a local community with an echoing shock. The common questions arise – “why didn’t we know something was wrong, what are the signs that someone is suffering, where do we go if we think something is wrong.

This was exactly the discussion when a group of men came together over 7 years ago after a loss of a dear friend. The mix emotions of dealing with the loss, sadness, bewilderment, anger its an experience nobody wants to confront yet too many understand what the feelings are like.

Fraser Coast Mates was born from this meeting with a determination to create a stronger awareness on mental health and support suicide prevention initiatives. One of the key goals for the group was to make it easier for people to access counselling and mental health services in the Fraser Coast community. While 75% of suicides is men, women are very much part of the issue who are desperately asking for support.

Today, the group support hundreds of local residents in need of support for their mental health through the offer of counselling services that this organisation covers all costs. They also support other groups and organisations with common goals with mental health such as popular walking groups Men’s Walk & Talk Hervey Bay and Men’s Business Maryborough.

President for Fraser Coast Mates, Darren Bosley, says the local community has been strong in their support. “We have witnessed an amazing amount of growth in awareness and discussion around mental health in this community.”

“I cant speak highly enough of how this community has been there in time of need for people and we are proud to have Fraser Coast as part of our brand”.

Their first event in 2017 was the Fraser Coast Mates Golf Day playing for the Geoff Redpath Memorial Trophy. This year the Hervey Bay event had almost 200 players and another 130 ladies, and one man, attend the ‘Flourish’ luncheon on the golf course. 2023 was also significant with their first golf event in Maryborough last month with 150 golfers and another 70 ladies attend a ‘Bloom’ luncheon.

Lisa Curry, ex Olympian and Commonwealth Games gold medallist swimmer, has formed a strong connection with the group and said at a previous event for them “the best form of counselling is a cup of coffee”. Fraser Coast Mates has used her motivation with the recent Queensland Mental Health Week and provided 20,000 cups across the regions cafes and coffee houses to share the message - #frequentconvesrationsmatter #letstalk

If you are in need of support or know someone who can benefit speaking with a counsellor – contact www.frasercoastmates.com.au