Motorcycles of all shapes, sizes, vintages, and styles, dropped into Club Millthorpe last Saturday; and all for one very good reason.

Hundreds of bikers made the leisurely jaunt from central west towns including Bathurst, Cowra, Dubbo, Orange, and Mudgee to tackle men’s mental health and the epidemic that afflicts many older gents in our community.

As well as a free barbecue lunch, the Ride Blue mental health and suicide awareness event, also featured wellbeing checks and information stands from groups including suicide family support group, Standby; Mensline Australia; the Suicide Call Back Service; the Life Pharmacy Group; and Lifeline.

As well as awareness and support, these rides also act as a fundraiser for important work in the mental health community, Lifeline Central West CEO, Steph Robinson explained.

“I think events like this are incredibly important for a number of reasons, it’s about being able to have conversations around suicide and mental health, and other wellbeing issues,” Steph said.

“It is also about raising money to contribute to Lifeline Crisis Support, by funding scholarships to train our online counsellors, who all have to be accredited,” she added.

The Millthorpe ride was the ninth Blue Moto event organised by CEO, Steve Doherty who said that, knowing the full range of services available, is central to older men getting the support they need.

“It’s important for me because Blue Moto is a way of creating friendships among older bikers; we’re a motorcycle club focussing on mental health,” Steve said.

“Also, to have men be aware that there are other mental health facilities you can turn to other than your doctor,” he added.

The club, he added, runs fortnightly men’s get-togethers and “Community Wellness Walks” for both men and women.

Rider Allen Simmons from Cowra, said the ride had very personnel associations for himself due to his older demographic.

“This is my first one, and I’m supporting ‘Blue Suicide’ rescue (the Blue Tree Project), because nine people commit suicide every day in Australia,” Allen said.

“It’s also quite prevalent in people my age, as I’m over 70,” he added.

Mark Simmons from the Central West Riders group, rode all the way from Dubbo for the event, along with his buddy, Mark Wotton from Mumble.

“It’s about getting the word out there, as well as raising money, it’s a combined fundraiser and awareness event,” the Wellington local said.

“It’s about highlighting mental health and getting the word out,” Mumble Mark concluded.