Conquer the

Conquer the Corrugations was invented out of need. A need to find a way to deal with the grief of suicide. Emma Jackson is an English migrant and the wife of a Far North Queensland pastoralist who faced this grief after the tragic loss of her nephew to suicide. She wanted to raise awareness in the community to the horror of suicide and set about putting a plan in place. The idea of bringing people together to talk openly about their feelings was born in 2015 and what better way than to walk and talk.

Winchelsea local Robert “Charlie” Earl, met Emma while on holiday on Cape York and the concept of the walk struck him hard. He stopped to review his own experience, which in reality he had hidden away in the back of his mind. Upon reflection, he realised that eight people close to him had taken their own lives over his lifetime. He floated the idea of bringing the walk to his own backyard. Emma was full of support.

As a board member of the Winchelsea Bendigo Community Bank, he sought their financial assistance to bring his dream to life and they responded with a $5000 grant.

The plan to bring locals together was born and the walk from Winchelsea to Inverleigh and return took place last weekend. The efforts of individuals and support groups like the Lions Clubs of Inverleigh and Winchelsea and Geraldine and Georgie Malady at the Inverleigh Hotel was greatly appreciated by the 150 who people registered to be involved.

The walk also took on additional connection, as the Royal Flying Doctor Service was a massive supporter of the project in Queensland and other regional areas where the walk has been taken place. A recent addition of this publication highlighted the connection of Inverleigh’s own Clifford Peel playing a significant role in the creation of the RFDS. Jos Middleton from the RFDS joined Emma in making the trek south to be involved in the walk and also hosed a trivia style mental health awareness session at the Inverleigh Hotel on Saturday night.

The walk was a huge success and many spoke of their own connection to the reality of suicide providing the drive to participate.

If anyone reading this is troubled by subject, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. Rob Cameron.