THREE jet skiers have surpassed the halfway mark of their eight-day journey along the Murray River to raise awareness of depression and suicide in the northern Victoria region.
Starting from Yarrawonga on Saturday, Julie Ryan, Michael Carew and Brendan Whitty have surpassed the halfway point (Mildura) on their 2300km journey to the end of the river — Goolwa, South Australia.
They have also raised $23,000 along the way.
Head organiser and jet skier Mr Carew and his crew arrived in Swan Hill at 12 noon on Monday, where temperatures exceeded 42 degrees.
The 65-year-old said long hours on the water travelling 70 kilometres per hour didn’t make the days any cooler, but said it was for a worthwhile cause.
“The beautiful sights of the Murray certainly help, but you’ve got to keep focus for long periods with trees and other vessels on the water,” Mr Carew said.
“But, each pit stop we’ve made, we’ve been welcomed by sponsors and community members and businesses.
“You don’t realise how many people are impacted until you go out and talk to them.
“I open up about my eight-month battle with depression in the past and share stories, and it creates a ripple effect with others opening up too.”
All the money raised will go to the National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFN), who aim to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of farmers, their families and communities across Australia.
The first of three initiatives the money will be funding is a three-day digital storytelling workshop in Swan Hill.
The $25,000 program aims to give young people across the Mallee, aged 12 to 25, from rural or farming communities, the chance to share the challenges through video.
Swan Hill-based Youth Affairs Council Victoria co-ordinator Rhiannon Jennings said they partnered with NCFN in this effort to empower youth.
“We’ve been working together for the better part of eight months to bring this project here into the Mallee,” she said.
“It helps the public realise some of the challenges and barriers our young people face, and the resilience they have to overcome them.”
“The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System has shown the need to work with young people to overhaul the system, because 74 per cent of submissions by organisations specifically mentioned young people.”
Swan Hill Rural City Council’s empowering youth initiative is also supportive of the program, while Murray Ace has offered their computer lab.
Mr Carew said it was pleasing to witness first-hand where the money will be going and how it will impact.
“We could have easily donated the money to the bigger charities, but you never hear what the money went to,” he said.
“In this instance, NCFN are showing us where it’s going and we’re seeing first-hand, while riding down the Murray, how it’s helping.
“We can see why it’s hard for farmers and the people in these regions at the moment.
“We were meant to start in Albury, but insufficient water levels forced us to move down the river.
“We’ve also seen some parts of the Murray that are devastatingly dry and just grey and dead.”
The digital storytelling workshop is open to 10 young people, with expressions of interest open until December 13.
For more information, visit the NCFN website.
The Murray River Jet Ski Marathon is aiming to raise $50,000.
To donate, visit their Facebook page and follow the website link.
