Gordon sisters on the road for mental health

TWO sisters will venture once again on a challenging rally to promote mental health awareness.

Gordon women Lisa Plaisted and Jessica Wibberley will jump in their car on 26 February with only a navigator’s book and each other to get to South Australia and back again.

The pair are taking part in the Beyond Bitumen Rally, a 1500-kilometre, four-day journey that places a premium on communication not only during the event, but in everyday life.

This is the second year the tight-knit sisters will drive and raise money for Beyond Blue in honour of Lisa’s former partner Matthew, who died in 2024.

“They call it the 1500-kilometre chat, and what that means is pretty much having those difficult conversations,” Ms Plaisted said.

“Whether that be in the car with whomever you’re travelling with, within the wider community, just reaching out to people, letting them know that it’s OK to not be OK.”

She said the rally brought awareness in the towns the participants drove through about mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

“Anything they might be struggling with,” she said. “Just getting people to open up, just having that starter conversation.

“I feel like there’s still a massive stigma, especially within the male-dominated field.”

Ms Plaisted will drive in the ute that was Matthew’s, a former tradie and footballer from Gordon.

With a love for driving and a desire to promote the benefits of positive mental health, Ms Plaisted knew the Beyond Bitumen Rally was for her.

She said the rally allowed people to open up because the nature of the event forced both navigator and driver to speak.

“First day’s always going to be a bit dicey,” she said. “But I think this is the one thing that it does bring you down to reality, going ‘you have to communicate’ and I guess that’s what this is all about – bringing an awareness around about speaking.”

Ms Plaisted was thrilled to be taking part in the rally with her sister.

“She loves paperwork and numbers and figures and all of that,” she said. “I love getting out on the dirt road and seeing how far I could push my driving ability limits.

“We’re 12 years apart but we’re like best friends, not sisters. I would say we’re more best friends than sisters.”

The pair hope to raise $1500 for Beyond Blue. Donations can be made at beyond-bitumen-vic.raiselysite.com/lisa-plaisted

If you or someone you know needs mental health support, visit beyondblue.org.au or call their 24/7 hotline on 1300 22 4636. You can also visit lifeline.org.au or call them on 13 11 14 and help for young people is available at kidshelpline.com.au or by calling them on 1800 55 1800.