Maurice Hann is painting trees on his journey of resilience
A Tailem Bend local has painted trees in his area to raise awareness for mental health.
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Fifteen years ago, the life of Maurice Hann of Tailem Bend changed forever when he suffered a massive stroke.
Against the odds, the doctors at Flinders Medical Centre saved him, but recovery was not easy.
“The stroke left me battling major depression, which led me down a dark path of suicide attempts,” he said.
Admitted to Morria Ward at Noarlunga Hospital, Mr Hann finally realised the extent of pain his struggle was causing his loved ones, so from that moment, his mantra became clear: "Don’t let that bastard win."
During his travels, Mr Hann noticed a striking blue tree at Murray Bridge High School and, intrigued, researched its meaning.
He learned it was part of the Blue Tree Project, raising awareness about men's mental health and suicide.
The image struck a chord with Mr Hann, and when he drove past a dead tree on Kulde Road in Tailem Bend, he had an idea.
“The locals had petitioned the council to remove the tree, but due to funding not being available, well, nothing had happened," Mr Hann said.
“Better than seeing it decay, I trimmed, cleaned, and painted the tree blue, to
symbolise all the mental health struggles we have in our communities.”
Shortly after, another dead tree on Kulde Road caught his attention.
This time, Mr Hann painted it pink, recognising that mental health and suicide are not just male issues.
“My hope is simple, I hope the trees brighten up the street and offer a beacon of hope to those suffering in silence,” Mr Hann said.
Though others have asked him to bring the project to their streets, Mr Hann hasn’t made any plans yet.
“At the moment I just hope that the Kulde Road trees remain and stand as a testament to the resilience and the caring nature of our Tailem Bend community.”
- Get help: Contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 or, in an emergency, call 000.
Correction: An earlier version of this story erroneously referred to Beyond Blue, rather than the Blue Tree Project.
