a WORD FROM THE FOUNDER

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We believe that discussing our mental health concerns helps our lives become a more welcoming and compassionate place to be for everyone, especially when we work together as a community. “She won’t be right mate” is a small way we can all make a big difference to those struggling & to those who need it the most. Every year we host this growing event to share our stories and get the conversation started. Our inclusive car show and family day is the perfect way to engage and reconnect over our mutual passions for cars and bikes and to get real about how we are doing. The team at SWBRM are proud to facilitate this great event for those in the Yarra Valley and beyond. Every year our fundraising efforts grow and we are able to donate to such a great cause thanks to our supportive network of friends, local businesses and of course you, the generous public.”

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— MARCUS REEVES, DIRECTOR “SHE WON’T BE RIGHT MATE”.

the “She won’t be right” mission

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Director and founder Marcus Reeves drew from his own experiences as a young man with mental health difficulties. Sober for over 5 years and counting, his story is a powerful one about how the little stepping stones in life can take you from drowning in addiction and suicidal thoughts, to thriving and helping others do the same.

“We all do things in life, and often get away with it, until it takes something to make us re assess & change what we are doing before it becomes too late. Luckily for me, I got that opportunity. Many don’t. Growing up in Australia, being a tradie from a very young age, you are taught to work then have a beer after – That was our reward for being a hard working ‘man’. These were the reward systems unknowingly instilled in me. Soon drinking became my answer for resolving stress & unwanted emotions as well as celebrating success. Unfortunately, the depressant can only get you so far. I moved to regular cocaine use. I still ran my business, presented well to friends and family, and didn’t feel like shit. My moment of realisation, after drinking myself into oblivion and driving home to wake to suicide notes and missed calls from concerned family. Your brain blocks out a lot of the pain, but I know I caused a LOT. Thankfully, my family stepped in. Became night watchmen & psychologists. Cleaned out my house and took me into Maroondah inpatient ward for mental health.

It still takes a lot of work to stay on the path & put the things I have learnt in place to ensure I maintain a clear mind and be able to deal with life & it’s stressors and unpredictable events that occur day to day. I decided to make sure I used my story to help others. So many men (and women) keep their mouths shut, try to stay strong, ignore the feeling of struggling or do the blokey thing and literally say – She’ll be right mate. When in fact – SHE WON’T BE RIGHT MATE. Mental health adversary and suicide rates are skyrocketing because of the stigma attached to sharing our feelings, opening up or getting help when we are struggling. Our goal is to get the conversation started and let people know its all right to not be alright.”

Running since 2019 Marcus and the team at “She won’t be right mate” have donated over $60,000 in fundraising from the event to the Eastern Health foundation supporting the efforts they make in funding specialised programs, equipment, and spaces for mental health respite.

“If this event if it helps one person out of the darkness then we have all contributed to saving someone’s life. Who can say that in a lifetime that they have been a part of something that helped change a person? I know it does. I will never forget at my very first event in 2019, a lady came up to me at the end of my speech, she said “Marcus, my son loves cars & music and he would have loved this, I would have loved him to have met you” – She gave me a hug and walked away. And this is just one example of the stories of heartbreak and hope we hear regularly from parents, partners and friends who have lost loved ones to suicide. Stories that could have had very different endings”

This year we are working to make SWBRM a registered charity so we can do more good work. Fundraising is difficult in this climate, times are tough, and sponsorship is tricky, but we are not afraid of hard work, and we know that this event and your support helps us reach those who really need it. And reduce the statistics. Thank you to everyone who has donated and supported us so far. To those working hard in the mental health sector. Thank you to our amazing group of volunteers who work tirelessly to make our event possible every year. We hope to make 2024 our best and most heartfelt event ever.

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— MARCUS REEVES, DIRECTOR “SHE WON’T BE RIGHT MATE”.