>>>For more on the show see pages 27 – 32.
By Melissa Meehan
CRAIG Membrey still gets a “little teary” thinking about his son Rowan’s suicide.
Sitting in his refurbished truck away from the sweltering 37 degrees outside at the Berwick Show, Craig opens up about why he wants to get people talking about youth suicide and depression.
“I still get a bit teary about it every now and then – I had a teary moment last night thinking about what we are doing here at the show,” Craig said.
“But it’s such an important topic to get people talking about, and this truck is the perfect vehicle for it.”
The truck is a mean machine, refurbished in honour of his son. Craig has even painted a mural of Rowan on the back of it.
It is the centrepiece of this year’s show and Craig couldn’t be prouder.
Suicide is often a confronting and taboo topic for many. Newspapers and other news sources very rarely cover the issue – but that’s why Craig is so passionate about getting the issue out there.
“The truck and the truck pull is a way to get awareness to the masses,” he said.
“A few months after Rowan passed away, I knew I wanted to do something and decided to share our story.”
Craig doesn’t hide the fact that Rowan was on drugs when he took his own life.
“He was on ice, hanging around the wrong people … I make no secret of that,” he said.
“When you lie with dogs, you get fleas.
“But I didn’t know a thing about youth suicide issues and really didn’t have any idea, or care about the work beyondblue did until it happened and that’s no good.”
Craig follows the adage life is short, make it happen… so he did.
After many attempts to get in contact with beyondblue chairman Jeff Kennett, Craig was finally able to chat about his plans to paint his truck in honour of Rowan and wanting to include the beyondblue logo so people knew who to call in their time of need.
“I came in to work one day and said to my secretary, ‘I want Jeff Kennett on the phone, I don’t care how you do it’,” he said.
“Hours later she came back with a number from the Hawthorn Football Club and said, I might have a chance there … then I told them my story and they put me through to his personal assistant. From there, I was able to chat with him directly.”
Before long the wheels were in motion and Craig was approached by the Berwick Show to bring his truck and officially open the show.
“Beyondblue and the Berwick Show committee has been really supportive of me trying to get the word out there,” he said.
“Rowan is gone, I can’t bring him back, but hopefully talking about it can help save one life.”
Craig doesn’t apologise if talking about it makes people uncomfortable.
“I’m so proud about talking about it,” he said.
The Truck Pull in Rowan’s honour was one of the most popular events at the show despite the heat.
Narre Warren North CFA’s team got across the line in first place after pulling the truck 30 metres.
The extreme conditions saw the grand parade cancelled and entries for competitions down due to the heat, but show president Anne Reynolds said the show was a great success despite the heat.
