Walking the talk for mental health awareness

“I suffer with it (depression), and there’s never anything out there about it,” he said.

“No-one talks about it.

“Men don’t talk about it; they just push it under the carpet.”

Every October is Mental Health Month, and the Black Dog Institute gets the community involved in its “One Foot Forward” initiative, encouraging people to walk, run, or roll to raise funds for mental health.

For Glenn, it was the perfect opportunity to make a difference.

“I thought it’s a good idea to get it started,” he said.

“All fundraising these days is for cancer, and there’s never, ever anything for the Black Dog Institute.

“So, I joined to do a walk in October for a solidarity walk.

“I did 250km (in a month).

“My dog, Boy, loves it.”

In 2024, through his dedication to the cause, Glenn raised $11,074 — ranking as the fifth-highest individual fundraiser out of 29,000 participants.

Over this period, he walked a total of 6145km to raise funds.

Since joining the initiative, Glenn has raised a total of $24,109 for the Black Dog Institute over three years.

He has also expanded his fundraising efforts by organising a yearly golf day at Hill Top Golf-Bowls Club, rallying support from sponsors and businesses.

The event has become a local institution.

At Tatura’s Australia Day ceremony, Glenn was recently awarded the Community Award of the Year for his fundraising and advocacy efforts.

“I was overwhelmed when they rang and told me,” Glenn said.

“I thought they were having me on — I didn’t expect to win anything like this.

“People that nominated me, I never met them before.

“They just said, ‘We think you do an amazing job, what you do for it and reckon I deserved it.’

“I got that many well wishes and messages and people sending me texts, making me cry reading them.

“It’s a big honour.”

For Glenn, another highlight of his involvement is seeing the turnout at his golf day and the positive feedback he receives.

When asked if there’s been a shift in how society addresses men’s mental health, Glenn is unequivocal: the taboo seems to be fading.

“I don’t shake my mates’ hands anymore, I give them cuddles, which is good,” he said.

“We’re always talking about this kind of stuff (mental health).”

Every year for the past three years, Glenn, a keen golfer, has organised a golf day.

The first event drew 80 participants, but it has grown significantly, now attracting 200 people.

Local individuals and businesses generously donate raffle prizes, with Glenn counting 60 sponsors at the last event, which raised $11,500.

“Everybody just wants to donate, wants to get on board, wants to come to my fundraising day,” Glenn said.

He is already preparing for the next event, set for October 18.

“It gets bigger and bigger every year,” Glenn said.

Glenn’s advice for those struggling with mental health issues is simple:

“Don’t be ashamed – talk about it,” he said.

“Talking never hurts anybody.”