Royal Flying Doctor Service - QLD Section
Denmark screening of Just a Farmer film opens conversation about mental health in rural communities
Denmark restaurant The Dam screened new film Just A Farmer, with the evening presented by Black Dog Ride and aiming to open conversations about mental health and suicide in rural Australia.
An Australian farmer takes their own life every 10 days.
This was the eye-opening statistic presented to the gathered audience at the end of the film, as the room full of more than 100 people sat in sombre silence after watching the deeply moving film.
Just A Farmer follows main character Allison and her young farming family in rural Victoria and their journey of grief and healing after she loses her husband Alec to suicide.
Leila McDougall wrote, produced, and starred in the film, with she and her husband mortgaging their cattle farm in Victoria to finish the $2 million production.
She attended the screening at The Dam and said growing up and living in farming communities opened her eyes to the devastating and growing impacts of the mental health crisis in rural Australia.
"It is still quite taboo in a farming community, but it's time we started having those conversations," she said.
"Making a movie was my a way of subconsciously getting people to see what's going on in farming communities, and I honestly don't regret a single minute or dollar we spent doing it."
- Albany Advertiser
National Men's Health Gathering to feature new $25,000 Black Dog Ride Pitchfest
Grassroots men's mental health projects will take centre stage at the National Men's Health Gathering 2025, with the launch of the Black Dog Ride Pitchfest at the Brisbane Showgrounds this October.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Australian Men's Health Forum and Black Dog Ride Australia (BDRA), designed to support community-led solutions that improve men's mental health and help prevent male suicide.
The Pitchfest will be held on Friday 24 October 2025 on the last day of the three-day Gathering, which brings together a diverse and expanding sector of individuals and organisations working to create a healthier world for men and boys, and everyone in Australia.
Register for the National Men's Health Gathering
Apply for Pitchfest
The first step to taking part in the Pitchfest is filling out this form by midnight, Sunday 21st September
Up to 10 grassroots organisations and individuals will be selected to pitch their ideas in a dynamic 90-minute session at The Gathering.
Prizes include $5000 for the overall winner, $1000 for four runners-up, and $200 for five additional finalists. To ensure accessibility, up to 10 bursaries will also be awarded to help shortlisted participants attend the event.
All projects must demonstrate a direct benefit for men and align with the goals of the BDRA Community Grants Program, which supports initiatives that are cost-effective, sustainable, and capable of making a measurable impact on men's mental health.
Building on Black Dog Ride's mission
Since its inception, Black Dog Ride Australia has built a strong national following through its annual "1 Dayer" motorcycle rides, held on the third Sunday of March across every state and territory. These rides not only raise awareness about depression and suicide prevention but also connect riders, local businesses, and community groups with mental health services.
Funds raised through these activities are channelled into the Community Grants Program, which has backed projects that raise public awareness, support people living with mental illness, and strengthen suicide prevention efforts.
The new Pitchfest takes this commitment one step further, giving grassroots groups the opportunity to showcase their work on a national stage.
Judging and participation
Entries will be assessed by a panel comprising AMHF and BDRA representatives. Shortlisted participants will be given a set time to pitch their ideas before the judging panel and live audience at the Gathering.
The Black Dog Ride Pitchfest is expected to generate strong interest among grassroots organisations working to improve men's health and wellbeing.
September 01, 2025 by Kim Trengove
No More Paper Registrations - 1 Dayer
Thankyou Black Dog Ride to WSBK 2025 Sponsors!!
2up From Down Under
"We are two couples who embarked on a 6 month, 25 country, 35,000Kms, pillion motorcycle adventure from Sydney Australia to the UK.
As well as being an amazing adventure and personal experience we are aiming to raise awareness and some money for two good causes we have identified. Black Dog Ride- An Australian organisation who is raising awareness of depression and suicide prevention and Mental Health Motorbike, a UK Organisation whose aim is to reduce the number of people ending their lives by suicide."
You can view their Website, Facebook and YouTube channel in the links below.
- YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@2upFromDownUnder
- Website - https://www.2upfromdownunder.com/
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/2upfromdownunder/
- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/2upfromdownunder/
Save the Date!
Black Dog Ride to the Superbikes 2026 aims to have a conversation about depression and suicide prevention.
Help us get the the motorcycle community talking and join us from the 11th - 22nd February 2026.
1 in 5 Australians experience a mental health condition each year. 3 million Australians are living with depression or anxiety. 8 Australians take their lives each day. That's more than 3,000 lives lost to suicide each year. The tragic loss of our loved ones to suicide drives Black Dog Ride to build a community culture of awareness, inclusion and acceptance. Breaking down the barrier of silence encourages our friends, family and colleagues to seek help, because mental illness is just that, an illness. Mental illness can be managed to lead a meaningful, fulfilling life. Fostering awareness is the catalyst for encouraging help seeking behaviour and preventing suicide.
More info coming very soon!
All enquiries to Ride Coordinator:
Bernie Garvey
Help Black Dog Ride break down barriers and start conversations, join us from 11th & 22nd February 2026 to kick start a national conversation around suicide prevention.
BUY TICKETS NOW TO...
PRIZE VALUED AT $42,995, ONLY 10,000 TICKETS! ONLY $10 EACH!
Drawn on the 15th March 2026, the day of the National Black Dog Ride 1 Dayer!
8 Australians take their lives every single day - that's one Aussie every three hours losing their life to the Black Dog.
Help us do something about it, and go into the draw to win this magnificent Brand New 2025 Indian Springfield Special Edition!
Tickets are priced at $10 each, 2 tickets for $20, 3 tickets for $30, 5 tickets for $50, 10 tickets for $100, 20 tickets for $200, 50 tickets for $500
BRAND NEW 2025 INDIAN SPRINGFIELD SPECIAL EDITION
- Indian Motorcycle Red and Ivory Cream
- Including on road costs, excludes insurance
- Delivery will be arranged with the closest official Indian Motorcycle dealer to the home address of the winner
- The prize must be registered in the name of the confirmed competition winner.
- The Indian Motorcycle, or any component of the prize, is not transferable, exchangeable, or redeemable for cash.
Alterations, changes or revisions of the above specifications can only be executed after delivery of the motorcycle and at the cost of the winner. The specification & drive-away RRP of the motorcycle may be changed at any time at Polaris Australia's sole discretion. RRP is correct at time of print.
This raffle is being held for Black Dog Ride Australia Ltd 15 Kershaw Street , Busselton, WA, 6280.
The Raffle commences on the 15th of August 2025, closes on the 15th of March 2026. Winner will be drawn on the 15th of March 2026, and will take place at 2pm via randomdraws.com.au, a service of Trade Promotions and Lotteries Pty Ltd, ACN 601 297 330, 24/88 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000. The method will be random draw process. Ticket buyers do not have to be present at the draws. Winner will be contacted by phone and/or email within 2 days after each draw. Details of the Winner will be displayed at http://www.blackdogride.org.au and https://www.randomdraws.com/au... and Published by Wednesday 18th March 2026.
Entry is open to all Australian residents 18 years or over other than the following Black Dog Ride related persons, their immediate family or people residing in their household who are precluded from buying raffle tickets. "Members of the Board of Directors, Black Dog Ride executive staff lotteries staff, information systems staff, and the internal auditor". To enter and be eligible to win, Eligible Entrants must purchase one or more tickets from the Promoter, and correctly complete the details required on the online entry form. The number of tickets at the opening of the Raffle is 10,000. Each ticket purchased from the Promoter that is correctly completed ("Eligible Entry") will be included in the random draw process.
DISCLAIMER:
If a prize (or part of a prize) is unavailable for any reason, the Promoter may, in its absolute discretion, substitute alternative goods or services of equal or higher value, subject to the approval of any relevant gaming authority, where required. The Promoter accepts no other liability or responsibility for any loss incurred by a winner or any other party if a prize (or part of prize) is unavailable for any reason.
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
Full Terms and Conditions are available for download during the ticketing process.
NSW Art Union Authority GOCAU/2425
Save the Date!
Black Dog Rides 1 Dayer 2026 aims to start a national conversation about depression and suicide prevention. Help us get the country talking and join us!
1 in 5 Australians experience a mental health condition each year. 3 million Australians are living with depression or anxiety. 8 Australians take their lives each day. That's more than 3,000 lives lost to suicide each year. The tragic loss of our loved ones to suicide drives Black Dog Ride to build a community culture of awareness, inclusion and acceptance. Breaking down the barrier of silence encourages our friends, family and colleagues to seek help, because mental illness is just that, an illness. Mental illness can be managed to lead a meaningful, fulfilling life. Fostering awareness is the catalyst for encouraging help seeking behaviour and preventing suicide.
Help Black Dog Ride break down barriers and start conversations, join thousands of riders in our 1 Dayer ride on 15th March 2026 to kick start a national conversation around suicide prevention.
