Ken Meldrum has fired up his beloved motorbike and hit the road to Tasmania to raise awareness of depression and suicide prevention as part of The Black Dog Ride.
Mr Meldrum who works in the Cleveland and Logan area as a police liaison and team leader for Metro South Health’s Addiction and Mental Health Services team said the ride to the Apple Isle is his second Black Dog ride after previously making the journey to to Uluru in 2015.
Mr Meldrum said the charity rides with other riders allow him to enjoy what he loves while making a difference.
“The Black Dog Ride gives me the opportunity to combine my two great passions – helping people with mental illness concerns and motorcycle riding,” he said.
“My work involves speaking to men of all ages about mental health.
“Often the first step in a person’s recovery is knowing where to go to access information, help and support.”
Mr Meldrum said getting to spread awareness in regional and rural areas is an important aspect of the charity ride, as well as raising funds for important mental health first aid training for his colleagues.
“Getting the chance to visit rural and isolated areas and speak with different group about suicide and depression and anxiety is really humbling,” he said.
“The issues in rural and remote areas across mental health are huge and support services can be sparse, sometimes simply because of the geography of our country.
“The funds I raise will help to provide mental health first aid training for emergency services staff so they are better able to support their co-workers.”
The Black Dog Ride ran from October 27 to November 6 and took in towns such as Texas, Gunnedah, West Wyalong, Port Melbourne and Devonport and finished in Launceston Tasmania.