Cricketer Brad Hogg is coming to Mypo to lift farmers’ spirits
The retired spin bowler, now an ambassador for a Grain Producers Australia mental health initiative, will be at the sports club next Thursday night.
Mypolonga, prepare to be bowled over – former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg is coming to town.
The mercurial spinner will be at Mypolonga Combined Sports Club next Thursday night, August 15, from 6pm to share stories from his sporting career.
But he’ll also talk about the importance of removing the stigma around mental health in rural communities, in his role as a national ambassador for Grain Producers Australia’s Farmer Mates mental health initiative.
Having grown up on a sheep farm in Western Australia’s wheat belt, he gets it.
“I’m looking forward to joining GPA and our partners … to build greater leadership and knowledge-sharing on this vitally important issue,” he said.
“I’m excited about … making sure we can reach out and connect with people.”
Chief executive Colin Bettles said GPA wanted to do whatever it could to support farming communities.
“Hoggy’s passion for mental health and wellbeing, his leadership experiences and genuine love and passion for farming communities, given he was born and raised in one … make him a fantastic ambassador and one we’re all proud to support,” he said.
The evening at Mypo will highlight the importance of staying connected with friends, family members and the community during testing times; and of taking breaks from work to focus on health and wellbeing.
Meals will be available and the bar will be open.
Brad Hogg played 145 matches for Australia across all formats between 1996 and 2014, taking 180 wickets; and was man of the match for the Perth Scorchers in their 2014 Big Bash League grand final win.
His visit is just one of a number of initiatives related to rural mental health happening in the Murraylands this month, following a movie screening in Murray Bridge and with visits by the Mates on a Mission and the Unbreakable Farmer coming up.
- Register: www.eventbrite.com.au.
- Get help: Talk to your GP; call Lifeline on 13 11 14; call Rural Aid’s mental health and wellbeing team on 1300 17 55 94, or email contact@ruralaid.org.au; or, in an emergency, call 000.
- Read more: Conversations can save lives – here’s where to start in the Murraylands
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