Jun 17 2008
The transformation that can happen through depression
I would like to tell you a story about Brian Egan. Brian was a veteran and farmer who was featured in “Back from the Brink” (see www.OvercomingYourDepression.com) He was tortured by his experiences of war and had the added pain of enduring year of drought on the land. Eventually he and his wife Nerida were forced off the land with nothing. He went into a catatonic depression where he couldn’t even talk for six months.
The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide
A psychologist he was seeing suggested that he get involved in helping others worse off than himself. At first he thought he was joking because he couldn’t think of anyone worse off than him. Eventually he started working for a charity but realised that his true interest lay in directly helping farmers who are doing it tough.
The birth of Aussie Helpers
He and Nerida decided to start Aussie Helpers (www.aussiehelpers.org.au) in 2002. Since then they have helped thousands of farming families with groceries, food, personal hygiene goods, and feed for stock. They work 6 days a week and are passionate about helping others and are now operating in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. Brian has adopted Mother Theresa’s motto that “giving is receiving”.
If you want to help yourself help others
Not content to just “rebuild the bush” Brian and Nerida have now launched another initiative which is endeavouring to kill two birds with the one stone. There is a chronic shortage of labour in farming communities so Aussie Helpers is launching “The Wall of Hope” which will bring homeless people from the cities and train them in how work on a farm. Donations can be sent to Aussie Helpers, PO Box 405, Charleville, Qld 4470. Brian credits Aussie Helpers as the reason he recovered. I know in my own experience and in talking with many people that have overcome depression that it is often helping others that gets us outside our own head. There are many options to volunteer. If you have a story about how volunteering has helped you I would love to hear it.
Kind Regards
Graeme
