Unbreakable Farmer Warren Davies to speak in Moyhu

One of Australia’s leading rural mental health speakers Warren Davies, known as The Unbreakable Farmer, will be the guest speaker at a free event being held by the Rural City of Wangaratta and the Wangaratta Livestock Exchange at the Moyhu Hotel on Thursday, 18 September. Supported by the Victorian government and designed to assist the farming community, Mr Davies will share his own experience on the land, and how he developed a set of skills and strategies to help deal with his own mental health struggles. Mr Davies describes his own relationship with "resilience" as fractured, saying he now tries to focus on building capacity in communities, and strategies in your own mental health "toolbox" to deal with adversity. He said telling his own story - of being a dairy farmer who faced high interest rates, low commodity prices, floods and drought, eventually deciding to walk off his Tongala farm following years of the millennium drought - helps him build rapport with the communities he talks to. "By sharing my story, it demonstrates I'm not just someone who is telling you what to do - I've been there and lived it and understand where people are at," he said. "I basically share what I've learnt, and what I did to navigate those challenges." Mr Davies said in the last six years he's been working as a speaker in the disaster recovery space in particular, and he's learnt it doesn't matter how big or small your challenge is, if it's impacting you, you need to ask for help. He said working in disaster recovery made him realise his own challenges weren't overly big in comparison, but he said it doesn't need to be huge to be impacting. "What I try and instil is that it's okay to stick your hand up and ask for help - it's not a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength," he said. "There is support in the community; to look after you, or to lean on if you're struggling." Mr Davies said while he continues to raise awareness about mental health, he now wants to build on that by inspiring conversation, saying sharing his story encourages people to share their own. He said having worked across rural Australia, he's finding people's wellbeing is being impacted not only by disasters and climate events, but by issues like renewables projects being rolled out which are dividing communities. "We may have got better at understanding mental health but we probably still don't have the tough conversations we need to have - we'd rather dodge them - so I try to provide the tools to facilitate those conversations," he said. "Someone asked me the other day if I can sum up how rural communities are feeling at the moment - and one word that sums it up is 'uncertain'. "There are complex state, national and international topics which are impacting people's livelihoods, which in turn impacts mental health." Mr Davies said after losing his own farm, he not only had to deal with his own poor mental health, but a loss of identity and feeling like a failure. He said it took a long time to find his identity and purpose again - to redefine who he really was and what he was going to do in life. Today he says he feels hopeful and engaged about the future, and promises his talks are not all heavy-hitting but have plenty of light and shade, even fun and laughter. "The best thing that happens after my talks is the conversation that happens after - the emails and messages I receive later," he said. "Sharing my story is a cathartic experience for me, because I know in every room I work in, there will be at least one person who resonates with my story and might take some action and get help - or help someone else navigate their own journey. "I love what I do - it's my passion and my purpose." The Unbreakable Farmer, a free dinner and talk, will be held on Thursday, 18 September from 5.30pm to 8.30pm at the Moyhu Hotel, with registration essential and free tickets available via Humanitix, or contact economicdevelopment@wangaratta.vic.gov.au for more information. * King Valley in brief King Valley community lunches King Valley community lunches are held on the first Thursday of the month. The next will be held on Thursday, 4 September at the Edi Upper Hall, with RSVP required by the Sunday prior to Therese Holmes on 5729 3603. * Scott & Amanda Band in Moyhu Enjoy a social night filled with fun, laughter and dancing when the Scott & Amanda Band perform at the Moyhu Soldiers Memorial Hall on Saturday, 6 September. Doors open at 6.30pm with live music from 7pm and refreshments will be provided (drinks available at bar prices). There will be door and raffle prizes with tickets $30 (bookings essential) available by calling 0408 038 891. * Holy Cross Church in Moyhu turns 150 The 150th anniversary of Holy Cross Catholic Church will be held on Sunday, 14 September at the church at 2335 Whitfield Road in Moyhu. There will be a thanksgiving mass at 10am, to be followed by a light luncheon and historic display at the Moyhu Soldiers Memorial Hall, with all welcome. Please RSVP by Wednesday, 27 August for catering and planning purposes, to Julie on 0458 293 572. Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, 13 September at 10am in St Joseph’s Church, Whitfield as part of the celebration. *

Unbreakable Farmer Warren Davies to speak in Moyhu

3x3 basketball fun coming to WSAC

Splash about at community pool party on Saturday

Festival torpedoed again by fire risk concerns

Insite Real Estate Christmas Party Race Day promises family fun, community connection and Christmas spirit

Hot rods, hard bargains at Wangaratta Swap Meet and Show and Shine

Rufous Whistler – arrival of a summer songbird

Bombers go back-to-back in A grade

“No stone unturned” – Police committed to the long-haul in manhunt

Start your engines, Wilby Drags are back

Most popular stories