Hope rides with Oz trek

People have been traversing the inhospitable Australian outback in bizarre and wacky ways for years, but few take the time to visit rural communities along the way.

Christian musician Steve Grace will not only be travelling from Steep Point at Shark Bay to Cape Byron in New South Wales, but he’ll also be performing 20 concerts in rural communities, hoping to use his music to tackle the issues of suicide, prevention and depression.

“I think most people are looking for hope in life and, for me, I found that in the messages of the Gospel,” he said. “I’ve recorded 18 albums over a 30-year career and I’ve been amazed at how effective the songs are in helping people.

“I love doing these concerts and putting a smile on people’s faces.”

Seventeen years ago Mr Grace was invited to perform at Mukinbudin in the Wheatbelt and it’s there his music touched Philip Sprigg, who was a youth worker at the time.

“Steve sang a song called Big Dreams for Little People, and I kind of saw myself as a little person with a big dream,” Mr Sprigg said.

“Suicide and depression are something people often don’t want to talk about and there’s nothing worse than for people to feel alone and like they don’t belong.”

Mr Sprigg, a territory manager for Coates Hire, is familiar with the impact depression and suicide can have on people, having lost a cousin and a colleague to the illness.

A report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in 2007 found that men in remote areas of Australia were 2.6 times more likely to end their lives by suicide than those in metropolitan areas.

Mr Grace believes this is partially caused by isolation, as well as a reluctance to talk about the illness.

“For many people, they don’t know how to talk about it, especially men. It’s one of those dark hidden issues of our culture,” he said.

“I’ve realised, even in my own life, that you’ve got to surround yourself with people who love and care for you, and we need that back in our Australian culture.”

Mr Sprigg and Mr Grace will travel across Australia with eight other people, including Mr Grace’s son Ryan, a suicide survivor who now sees life in a more positive light.

“Ryan found himself in a very dark place a few years ago, and attempted to take his life,” Mr Grace said. “Now he’s sharing his story and bringing hope, especially to people who struggle with depression and suicide tendencies.

“I’m honoured to be travelling with him and grateful that he got a second chance at life.”

The ride is expected to take about a month and the group will cover more than 5500km, much of it on unsealed roads — with Mr Grace on a modified Harley-Davidson.

Crossing Australia kicks off this Saturday with a free concert at the Strathalbyn Christian College hall.

For more information, visit www.crossingaustralia.com.