Tony Hopper, 71, and Wayne Hueske, 61, lead the early morning charge during their 235 km walk from Walla to Tallimba. Photo: Supplied.
There’s a story that will stay with Tony Hopper long after the ache of tired feet and a rolled right ankle have subsided from an epic walk to support farmers’ mental health.
The 71-year-old Tallimba resident and his mate Wayne Hueske, 61, have successfully completed their 235 km walk from Walla Walla to Tallimba, bringing together hundreds of people from rural communities across the region during their nine-day Walk N Talk fundraiser.
Carried by stories, prayers and the power of human connection, these two blokes were on a mission to raise awareness for rural men’s mental health and to break down barriers of isolation after losing a friend and fellow Tallimba local to suicide.
“We just yarned and walked,” Tony said of the long days pounding the back roads and bitumen of the Riverina.
Even he couldn’t believe the response to the event the pair dreamed up over a beer at the Tallimba pub.
“It just blew me away,” Tony said of the outpouring of support from rural communities along the route, the people who joined them on the walk and the host of regional and national media attention.
“All along the way the hospitality and welcome we received from footy clubs, halls and community centres … it was just incredible. They gave us food, accommodation, ran raffles and donated money.”
But it was the blokes who fell into step beside him on the walk or lingered for a quiet chat around the fire at night to candidly share their own experiences that left a lasting impression on Tony.
“One guy from Lake Cargelligo walked with us for two days – he told us all about his worries and the emotional toll of his mental health challenges,” Tony said.
“I think he thoroughly enjoyed walking with us and it’s given him hope to continue.”
Another 86-year-old gentleman called him up at the hall at Wallaroobie to share the heartbreak of a beloved son lost to suicide.
“He had endured horrendous family events in the last three or four years and he got a lot off his chest that night,” Tony said.
“Talking to that farmer … well, it had the biggest impact on me; you see I’d actually worked with his son in the early 2000s and I had no idea what had happened.”
Tony pointed out that completing the mental health first aid course before the walk better equipped him for those hard and heavy conversations.
“Each day we had a little prayer to recite before we left,” he said.
“On the final day of the walk the father of the friend we lost in February wrote us a prayer to share (he’s an Anglican minister):
‘May their efforts bring light in the darkness of the lives of those facing depression and remind us all of the necessity to share our difficulties with others.’
“And really I think that last line is especially true and what we need to encourage with everyone.”
There was a huge turnout at Ardlethan on 10 July to support the Walk N Talk team. Photo: Supplied.
While the final fundraising figures were yet to be tallied, the amount was well into the $50,000 mark, fellow Tallimba resident and event co-ordinator Meghan Hardie said.
On day five and six, the team was delighted that representatives from the event’s chosen charity, Mongrels Men, joined them to walk.
“They came to us with open minds and hearts and it was beautiful,” Meghan said, before adding that, “Every single community got behind us on the way.
“We had kids come out to their mailboxes with hand-drawn envelopes containing cash contributions. We had teenage girls meet us at the end of their driveways with fresh scones and cups of tea. We had grown men meet us at the end of their roads with cakes and urns full of steaming water.”
In addition to the “billion phone calls from all sorts of people wanting to get involved” were dozens more messages from people wanting to buy merchandise or make donations,” Meghan said.
“There were trucks pulling up and handing over cash, people pulling over on the road, talking to our escort drivers and transferring incredible amounts of cash to our cause and families on their way to sport stopping to hand over all of the coins from the car,” she said.
“Every individual effort and contribution, physically, mentally or financially, got us to this amazing point.”
For Tony, who said he still went for a walk every day since the event finished on 12 July, the next task was to ensure the money raised through such generosity found a worthwhile purpose to support rural people who were suffering.
Mongrels Men is a community based charity dedicated to preventing mental illness and suicide among Australian men – and Tony knows how vital it is to ensure this is addressed, even within his own community.
“I feel like I could have helped (our friend) if I’d known what we know now,” he said, his voice breaking.
“The response to this walk was incredible and really shown us how worthwhile it was. I think we achieved what we set out to do.”
There is no doubt Wayne and Tony’s extended family and friends came from near and far to support these incredible ambassadors every single step along the way, together with the wider community of Tallimba who gave the “main gang” a rousing reception on their final kilometres into town.
Tony laughed as he recalled something his wife Joy said to Wayne before they set off on their mercy mission.
“She said, ‘Make sure you bring him home.’
“I think she was worried I wasn’t going to make it … but here I am going strong.”
Donations are still welcome to the Walk N Talk Fundraiser.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact:
Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support line – 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800 or kidshelpline.com.au
MensLine Australia – 1300 789 978.
