3 minute read
SmackTalk speaks volumes
TO HONOUR MAC’S MEMORY
IN THE WAKE OF LOSING HIS 17-YEAR-OLD SON, MAC, TO SUICIDE IN 2023, WAYNE HOLDSWORTH HAS TRANSFORMED HIS GRIEF INTO A POTENT FORCE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE BY ESTABLISHING SMACKTALK AND EARNING THE FRANKSTON CITY COUNCIL’S 2025 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD.
By Sarah Halfpenny
SmackTalk was formed to address the glaring gap in the community’s knowledge in identifying signs that friends, family and fellow tribe members show when they are mentally struggling and then what to do to save them,” Wayne said.
The tragedy has made Wayne passionate about protecting young people, particularly online. “One of the reasons Mac took his life was because he was sexually extorted. We must protect our children from the social media predators. Legislation is a start but education is the key.”
The organisation’s name carries special significance. “A mate of mine, Jarryd Moss, thought of it,” Wayne said. “Mac gave and received a fair share of banter on the basketball court and footy field, and his name is included (in SmackTalk).”
Leveraging his professional experience as CEO of Frankston and District
Basketball Association, Wayne uses his skills to amplify SmackTalk’s message. “My network has expanded enormously to include premiers and key decision-makers,” he said. These connections have proved invaluable in spreading awareness about mental health.
When asked about finding motivation during difficult times, Wayne’s answer is profoundly moving: “It is so very hard, but we have reconciled Mac’s death by way of knowing my work has and will continue to save other lives. It’s Mac’s legacy.”
Wayne’s advocacy extends to social media age restrictions, and he’s been involved in the News Corp Let Them Be Kids campaign. Beyond presentations, SmackTalk launched Unplug 24 last year, encouraging everyone to disconnect from social media for 24 hours on October 24, the anniversary of Mac’s death. “After last year, where we had 130,000 register, we will have a million Australians this year and one million overseas register,” Wayne said.
For parents attending SmackTalk sessions, Wayne encourages them to “ask their children open-ended questions, not just ‘Are you OK?’. Parents set the example and stop relying so much on their phone”.
In every presentation, Wayne emphasises one crucial message: “Listen to understand; don’t listen to resolve or respond. Nothing is more important than listening to someone who is struggling.”
Balancing this emotionally demanding work with family life presents challenges, but Wayne’s priorities are clear. “My wife and 16-year-old daughter Daisy are so very supportive. Family wasn’t always my priority, sadly, and it may have cost me my son, but it is now. If I had known then what I know now, Mac would still be alive.” It’s this raw vulnerability combined with determined action that makes Wayne’s work so impactful. With his new platform as Citizen of the Year, Wayne aims to spread SmackTalk’s reach even further, offering free sessions to clubs, workplaces and schools because he knows from experience that such conversations can literally save lives.
For more information about SmackTalk, visit smacktalk.com.au
