“I’ve heard this story a number of times already in the last few days, which is something that I’ve experienced myself,” he said.
“It’s thinking, ‘I’ve only lost my farm, so that’s okay’.
“But anything – it doesn’t matter how big or small your challenge is – if it’s impacting your mental health, your well being, or you’re feeling overwhelmed, then you need to connect with your support network: your community.”
Mr Davies became The Unbreakable Farmer, his keynote speaker alias, after losing his Tongala farm in 2004 to the millennial drought.
Now, he spends his days as a rural mental health advocate, sharing his poignant story with schools, companies and communities across the state.
He said, amid times of unthinkable loss, it was important to foster a sense of togetherness between those facing the same tribulations.
“I know that, from my own experience, you think that you’re the only one going through it, and obviously, you can see, if you look around, that you’re not, but that’s the inner feeling,” Mr Davies said.
“You start talking to people, and you realise that you are in this together; your situations might be different, but your experience is the same.”
Days after the Longwood bushfire decimated hundreds of thousands of hectares in regional Victoria, Mr Davies offered aid to people who had been impacted by the blaze, attending Rotary Park in Alexandra on Monday, January 12 alongside the Murrindindi Mobile Health Van team.
He said the importance of togetherness was emphasised as he witnessed victims of the fire interact with each other.
“We’re set up here, in Rotary Park in Alexandra. It’s away from the shops, it’s under the trees,” he said.
“Yesterday, we had a number of people just standing around, sharing stories and talking, and I think it’s really good to talk about it.
“It’s really important to be able to share those stories and stay connected to those people that can support each other.”
He added, for those who had been impacted by the devastating bushfire, that no challenge was too small.
“I want to re-emphasise that it doesn’t matter how big or small the challenge, or if you think someone is worse off than you. If you are feeling overwhelmed, check in with your support network,” Mr Davies said.
“It’s really important, because a lot of people go, ‘they’re worse off than me’. But, you may have lost nothing and still be feeling overwhelmed, and that’s okay, it’s normal.”
For 24/7 mental health support, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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