THE challenges associated with mental health issues impacts upon people from all walks of life. This was a fact discussed informally at the Ray White Rural and Livestock conference on the Gold Coast last week.
Brisbane Broncos chief executive officer Paul White addressed the hundred-plus gathering of Ray White Rural personnel from various parts of Australia. As part of his presentation he gifted a framed and autographed Broncos jersey to namesake and Ray White Group co-chairman Paul White.
The jersey was presented as a one-off auction item as part of the conference annual awards recognising the group’s top achievers. The two Paul’s were unanimous in their decision to make the beneficiary of the fundraising initiative, The Black Dog Ball.
The Black Dog Ball is staged annually at Paradise Lagoons near Rockhampton to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and wellbeing, placing a particular focus on men in the vast rural sectors of Queensland.
Ray White Rural’s Paul White was over the moon with the winning bid of $3500 placed by Patrick Bird and Ben Emms of Ray White Rural Emms Mooney in Central NSW.
“In our industry, dealing with a large volume of rural people from all corners of Australia, we are highly conscious of the challenges facing so many of these people at times, particularly during prolonged droughts and other factors beyond their control”, Paul said. “The Black Dog Ball is a great initiative, and one we are very proud to be associated with.”
The Broncos Paul White outlined the work that the Broncos and the NRL, are conducting to assist not just their players, but also the broader community with their State of Mind and other programs.
The NRL have thrown their weight behind The Black Dog Ball and are providing one of their ambassadors, former rugby league hard man, Ben Ross to attend the event to be conducted on October 8. Ben has been an NRL community brand ambassador for a number of years and has delivered the NRL Wellbeing program to school students, and has also been involved in the State of Mind campaign. Ben is the welfare manager of the Men of League Foundation, and is involved in visiting people from the rugby league community who have fallen on hard times.
The Black Dog Ball coincides with Mental Health Week annually, and this year it aligns with Brahman Week. The Australian Brahman Breeders’ Association are strong supporters of the Black Dog Ball, and in 2015 made a substantial donation to support their programs.
Those travelling to Rockhampton for the annual sale, may wish to cap off the week with a night to remember, while raising funds for this very worthy cause, which in previous years has attracted guests from as far afield as Townsville, Longreach and Northern NSW.
Limited tickets are still available on-line at www.blackdogball.com.au, or contact Debbie Hughes on 0408 156 699 for further details.