“It’s okay to speak up,” Shane Thomas says.
“I’m a truck driver and I’ve been in the industry now for about 19 years. I’ve also faced some mental battles myself.”
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About five years ago, Shane was in a dark place and attempted suicide. Thankfully, he got the help he needed and came out the other side.
Through facing these battles, he decided to start up the Looking Good Feeling Good for Mental Health Convoy, to raise awareness for mental health and encourage other truckies to speak up.
After a year of organising and hard legwork, the convoy was ready to go, and this year, it couldn’t have been more of a success.
“We had 79 trucks and 400 people come through the gates,” Shane says.
“There were old vintage Commers, one was even set up with a long set of stock crates on the back of it which was unreal. There were 909s, tippers, old Internationals, Volvos, the lot.”
Following the convoy in Woodside, Victoria came to life with activities and family fun.
There were jumping castles, simulators, live music, beers, and even guest speakers.
“Our guest speaker was from Zero Suicide, and he shed some light on some important issues on mental health,” Shane says.
“I shared my journey as well, and hopefully
that encourages other blokes to talk. At one point I was talking to a 50-year-old truckie about his journey. It’s all about giving them that space to open up.”
For Shane, the most unforgettable moment was watching all the trucks roll out before him, as he was the last rig of the convoy.
“It was quite emotional to witness that. We’re all brothers in this industry. We’re all on the same journey and show each other support,” he says.
“You think you’re on your own, but you’re not.”
Thousands of people lined the streets and driveways, waving, cheering and pumping their arms for horn blasts.
“When you’re battling mental health you feel so alone, but events like this make you realise we’ve got each other’s back and you actually do have people on your side,” he says.
“We’re brothers one way or another, and when you witness that support, you feel less alone. It was a bloody special day.”
Shane says this convoy highlights how many people are passionate about mental health, and that change is up and coming.
“If we can all stick together and talk about our struggles, hopefully we can change the outcome for people in a dark place or having suicidal thoughts,” he says.
“My biggest thing with Looking Good Feeling Good is to talk, yes, but actually start the conversation. And when you’re at an event like ours that focuses on mental health, the conversation ought to start one way or another.”
Shane is steering a movement, where a simple chat, or honk of a truck horn may save someone’s life.
The goal is simple. Start the conversation. And when it starts, that’s when the healing will begin.
Read more:
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- Illawarra Convoy delivers an emotional return
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