A love of the open road and a mutual goal to raise awareness of depression and suicide prevention have united more than 60 motorcyclists for a 14,500-kilometre journey around Australia.
The around-Australia Black Dog Ride is also raising money for treatment and support services for people with depression, and smaller rides have been held in each state.
Narrabri’s Cathryn and David Halliday joined with the NSW Black Dog Ride when the motorcyclists passed through Narrabri recently.
The 3,368-kilometre state journey began in Bateau Bay on July 26 and finished in Temora on August 1.
The Black Dog rides started in 2009 when the founder, Steve Andrews, set off to circumnavigate Australia alone in honour of his best friend’s wife, who had just committed suicide after years of silently suffering depression.
The initiative became the annual Ride to the Red Centre and has raised more than $1.3 million.
This year’s national circumnavigation celebrates the fifth anniversary of the Black Dog ride and will be completed by August 26.
Leigh Pilkington, a Rural Fire Service (RFS) captain who rode into Narrabri as part of the NSW contingent, said the initiative aimed to encourage people to talk about depression and anxiety, and not to suffer in silence.
Carrying a toy black dog as mascot, the team travelled through Stanthorpe, the north west, White Cliffs, Broken Hill and Swan Hill before arriving in Temora.
Leigh rode for his wife, who manages depression, and for his firefighting colleagues, many of whom have encountered depression and anxiety.
The Avoca Beach brigade captain carried an RFS bear as his personal mascot and stopped at RFS stations along the way to meet local firefighters and talk about mental health.