Show of support for the frontline

On February 16, six motorcycle riders from Shepherds Australia will roar into Swan Hill as part of a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) awareness baton ride.

The riders are on a tour of towns across the state and their itinerary includes an overnight stay in Swan Hill.

Shepherds Australia are a group of people who ride motorcycles and all have backgrounds in emergency services, military or government work.

Inspired by his own struggles with mental health, co-founder of Shepherds Australia Dean Marks said the ride was to show their support for emergency service workers and returned service personnel with their struggles with PTSD.

“I’ve been suffering through serious depression and PTSD and I know a lot of people through the first response and military who go through the same thing,” he said.

“They see horrible things every day that they can’t unsee. These people go out every day to look after others and are the Shepherds. They are people who run to the alarm when everyone else runs away.

“More service people have died after their return due to suicide than on foreign soil. I have watched and heard about people who have taken their lives.

“One of the things that I kept telling people is that you can’t do this alone. You have to ‘share the load’.”

To read more about this story, grab a copy of Friday’s Guardian (January 20).