Feature
The two of us: Hugh Van Cuylenburg and Martin Heppell In this feature of Torch, we highlight some of the many dynamic duos in our community. Old Carey Grammarians Hugh (1998) and Martin (1992) are the facilitators of the Resilience Project, which aims to teach people about mental health and strategies for a happier life. They are passionate about helping others and have shared their message with thousands across the country.
Hugh: When I was about 20, I was playing football for Old Carey and we’d been told the great Martin Heppell, former AFL player, would be coming back to our club. I was so excited, and I remember having a massive crush on him at trainings. I think everyone did! Many years later, I was speaking at a conference he attended. He was assistant principal of a primary school at the time and invited me to speak to his students. When I got there, he gave me the greatest introduction I’ve ever had to any presentation I’ve ever done. He was exactly the same person he was at the football club. He was super energetic and wearing outrageous clothes – a tweed jacket with a shirt and a tie, but with shorts, long Converse socks pulled up to his knees and basketball boots. He was getting the kids excited, doing magic tricks and making jokes and I thought, I need someone like this for the Resilience Project. When he eventually did join me, I found out in no uncertain terms how unhappy many of the parents at the school were that he was leaving. Martin has the strongest moral compass of anyone I’ve ever met. I’ve learnt so much from him and having him as part of the team has been really powerful for me. He has no ego and has respect for every person he meets. Martin speaks to everyone with the same level of personality, love and care, whether they’re the principal of a school or a 16 | Torch
‘Whether it’s a Prep student or an 85-year-old, we want them to walk out with a little more confidence, a bit more of a purpose, and an awareness of the things they can do to support themselves and others.’ student, teacher, cleaner, administrator, parent, or just someone passing by. A great example of this was once when we were at an airport and Martin spotted a guy who he thought looked a bit flat. He went straight over there and just said, ‘Hey mate, you all right?’ He sat down and had a chat with him, and I thought, this is a person who lives what we talk about every day. He is truly empathetic and caring and so attuned to how other people are feeling. Every time I’m around him, I always leave feeling that I’m a better person, just from being in his presence. The Resilience Project came from my fascination about what makes people happy. I had been in many scenarios where I had seen genuine happiness and the depths of mental illness, so when I learnt about the importance of gratitude, empathy and mindfulness, I realised I had to share it. I was a teacher at the time and naturally focussed
Above: (L–R): Martin Heppell (1992) and Hugh Van Cuylenburg (1998). on adolescent mental health, but the project quickly became relevant to people of all ages and walks of life. We now present to all sort of organisations, still a lot of schools but also professional sports clubs and corporations and communities. Being comfortable on stage is a massive part of it. I learnt public speaking when I was in Year 12. I was School Captain, so I was giving speeches at assembly every week, and I’d try to make them short and funny and it really helped me to develop the ability to perform. And Martin did too, from the stories his friends have shared with me, when he was at school he really learnt to perform and to win
