Former Western Bulldogs and premiership-winning player Tom Boyd will travel to Wagga as a guest speaker for a mental health advocacy event on 15 February. Photo: Instagram/Tomboyd17.
AFL premiership winner and the 2013 number one draft pick, Tom Boyd, is set to visit the Riverina as a guest speaker at the men’s mental health advocacy event at the Wagga PCYC this month.
Mr Boyd has been a major spokesperson and advocate for mental health following his sudden retirement from AFL football early in the 2019 season at just 23.
At the time, Mr Boyd had a seven-year, $7 million contract with the Bulldogs, but decided to retire with several years remaining, amid battles with mental health and injuries.
Mr Boyd will attend the PCYC for the free event on Sunday 15 February, where he will conduct a Q&A and recount his mental health journey.
“I am thrilled to be a part of the Murrumbidgee Men’s Group event; I promise it will be a fantastic afternoon with conversations, laughter and stories,” he said.
“There will be, of course, a critical conversation around mental health and how we can not only look after our own mental health but equally how we can look after the mental health of those around us and the broader community, which I know is so critical to regional communities.”
Murrumbidgee Men’s Group founder Rhys Cummins said the group was thrilled to have someone as renowned as Mr Boyd take the time to visit the region and share their story.
“I think it is really important to provide that hope and resilience and recovery to our community,” Mr Cummins said.
“To be someone who is of such high profile and was at the top of his sport, earning one of the biggest contracts and then having the strength to put that aside and look after himself is really brave.
“The group is really excited to hear from Tom and really take on his story and insight.”
Mr Cummins highlighted that mental health was still largely stigmatised in sporting communities and that voices like Tom’s were important to changing the way sports viewed mental health.
“Tom was at the top, winning premierships and from the outside that can look like he has everything, but behind closed doors, he was going through a lot,” Mr Cummins said.
“There are so many other people who are dealing with things that others can’t see.
“It’s important that people continue to look after themselves and speak up when they aren’t doing well, whether that’s while playing sport or dealing with day-to-day life.”
Mr Boyd will visit the Wagga Wagga PCYC from 12:30 to 2:30 pm on Sunday, 15 February. The event is free for all, with a free lunch included. To register your interest, click here.
