Winchelsea walk to tackle mental health

A WALK aiming to raise awareness about life’s challenges, or corrugations, will take place next month in Winchelsea.

The Conquer the Corrugations walk strives to support those who have lost loved ones to suicide, raise awareness about mental health and play a role in suicide prevention.

The 34km walk will run over two days, beginning Saturday, April 13 at 9am.

Participants will walk 17km each day, travelling from Winchelsea to Inverleigh and back.

A campsite will be erected in Inverleigh for those that wish to camp overnight.

Flexibility is a key aspect of the event and those undertaking the walk can choose to participate over either one or two days, or even choose to walk as little as an hour if they prefer.

Event organiser Robert “Charlie” Earl first experienced the event two years ago in far North Queensland where the walk first originated 10 years ago.

He said after his own “fantastic” experience, he wanted to bring the event to Winchelsea.

Last year’s inaugural event saw approximately 130 individuals participate.

“The project’s all about resilience,” he said.

“We have a saying, ‘Don’t let a corrugation be the end of the journey’, and that’s what it’s all about.”

The event hopes to provide participants with an ideal setting to open up about their lives and discuss their concerns with others, helping to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health, encourage individuals to seek support and to empower them with the tools to navigate the corrugations in their own lives.

A Conquer Crew of six dedicated volunteers, also known as Charlie’s Angels, will facilitate the event.

Staff from Hesse Rural Health, Lifeline and other organisations will also join in the walk to provide support to the participants along the way.

Earl said the walk had been designed to cater for everyone, ensuring all participants benefited from the event.

“We have a toilet that travels along with us, a drinking fountain and a bus,” Earl said.

“The bus constantly goes backwards and forwards, so the minute you feel tired, you can hop on, and it’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

He said his own experience with the Conquer the Corrugations walk had shown him that you don’t always know what you’ve capable of until you do it.

One the second day of walking, he needed to take a break.

“If you’re struggling with something, you need to put your hand up and get support.

“I put my hand up, the bus pulled up, I hopped on the bus, it drove me 3km down the track to the next stop. I had a break, relaxed, set myself down again and finished off the walk, and that’s what it’s all about.

“You need to know you’ve got the support behind you to actually do it – that’s the essence of the walk.

“In life you’ve got to have a go, and if it doesn’t work out so good, there’s plenty of people who’ll support you. You’ve just got to have a go.”

For more information, or to register for the event, head to conquerthecorrugations.com.au/Victoria2024