Daisy Hill local honoured for suicide prevention work

Daisy Hill local Justin Geange has received the Conversation Champion Award at the 2021 Barbara Hocking Memorial Awards.

Held virtually by suicide prevention organisation R U OK?, the Awards recognise efforts to create a world where we are all connected and protected from suicide across five categories; Workplace, Education, Community, Conversation Champion and Young Conversation Champion.

The judging panel took the time to celebrate the significant contribution Justin is making to suicide prevention work which has opened up the conversation for many nationwide.

Justin has been an R U OK? Community Ambassador since 2011 and currently works as a Field Officer with Mates in Construction.

In 2020, Justin didn’t let the COVID-19 pandemic disrupt his efforts. He made it his mission to connect with disconnected people through song and from March 2020 he sang requests for people all around the world, sharing an R U OK? message and reminding us all to stay connected.

“When we look out for one another and ask, “are you OK?” we can help break down stigma and encourage people to access the help and support they need long before they’re in crisis,” says R U OK? CEO Katherine Newton.

“While every one of us can have these conversations, this category recognises the people who are working tirelessly to encourage their community to look out for one another. Justin is absolutely one of those people - a true “Conversation Champion - and we are so grateful for the real impact his work is making all around Australia.”

Justin was nominated by his wife Marnie who shared that almost daily Justin receives a message or has a conversation where someone thanks him for sharing his story and encouraging people to have these important conversations. 

Marnie believes Justin has changed the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of people saying, “He’s always ready to talk to someone about how they’re going and offer advice and support. He lends his voice and experience to organisations across the mental health and suicide prevention sector. He’s always willing to share his personal story and journey.”

Justin accepted the Award over Zoom in a COVID-19 safe ceremony; “What a privilege and honour to have been named “RUOK’s Conversation Champion for 2021,” said Geange. “I would like to dedicate this award to every single person who shares their story in the hope that it helps someone else with theirs!”

The Awards also celebrated the life of Barbara Hocking OAM (d. 2016), one of Australia's leading advocates for people living with mental illness. 

“These Awards honour a longtime friend of R U OK? who was a leader in the mental health and suicide prevention sector,” said R U OK? Chair Mike Connaghan of Ms Hocking’s legacy.

“These Awards honour Barbara’s lifelong commitment to peer-to-peer support, highlighting that all of us can have a meaningful conversation with someone in our world who might be strugging with the ups and downs of life. Barbara was the first person from the mental health sector who believed in the merit of the R U OK? mission to break down stigma and encourage conversations that can change lives.” 

Details of all categories, finalists and winners for The Barbara Hocking Memorial Awards can be found on the R U OK? website at www.ruok.org.au/barbara-hocking-memorial-award