Check 1..2..3..4 steps on show
R U OK? Ambassador Travis Collins encourages mates to check-in with each other at the 2018 ‘Conversations in the Park,’ Concert.
MUSIC lovers from every state and as far away as Nashville, USA, rolled
in to Tamworth, NSW, to enjoy some of Australia’s finest country music, at the
2018 Tamworth Country Music Festival.
R U OK? Ambassador and six times Golden Guitar winner Travis Collins, hosted and performed in, the second ‘R U OK? Conversations in the Park’ concert at Toyota Park on Saturday, 27 January, at midday to a crowd of around 300 people.
Travis’ music mates, Amber Lawrence, Jasmine Rae, and Toyota Star Maker finalist Jake Sinclair, took to the stage and shared some heartfelt music with the audience. The artists also reflected on times they had struggled and with the support of mates, had managed to navigate a tough time in their life.
Travis shared with the audience why being a voice for R U OK? is so important to him:
“I’m so proud to be an ambassador for R U OK? It’s all about checking in with your mates and your kids and making sure everyone is doing ok.
I’ve personally been touched by mental health, we’ve lost a member of our family to suicide and R U OK? has become a very, very important part of my life. I want to make sure people know how to start a conversation, how they can be there for their friends and know how to look for the signs that something’s not quite right.
There are some amazing mental health organisations out there like Lifeline, Beyond Blue and Black Dog Institute that help people going through a tough time, but what R U OK? is about, is educating the people around the person having a problem.
It’s educating me to say, ‘Hey mate you don’t seem yourself, if you ever want to have a chat, I’m here.”
It’s so important, when you get home tonight or even now when you’re sitting here – it’ll be the only time I’m not offended if I’m singing this next song and you’re on your phones sending a text message to a mate you haven’t spoken to in a while – I’d actually really love that.
As soon as I said that I bet you were all thinking of someone, so reach out and say g’day, don’t wait and don’t put it off, it could be a real game-changer for someone important in your life .”
