MATEKEEPERS

"I feel communities are getting better at looking out for one another and directing those in need to safety, but this program is one I can really relate to as it worked well for me when I was struggling. It lifted me further towards taking action to recovery...with the consistent support I felt okay about the struggle I was having, and felt hope for a brighter future." - Phil

Saving mates, is a mate job. ROCs MateKeepers are trained to do just that. We know individuals feel more comfortable sharing feelings with their mates, that's why we are training local communities to recognise the signs and intervene early. 

ROC MateKeepers act as a pathway to professional help for those who are resistant to seeking support. ROC MateKeepers are trained in the basics of suicide prevention through ROCs qualified QPR presenters.

Meet A MateKeeper

Ian Gowanloch

What three words would your friends use to describe you?
I had to ring a few friends about the three words that would describe me and after leaving out all the bad words was left with dedicated, thoughtful and intelligent. Almost embarrassing, should have stuck with the bad words.

What does a typical day look like for you and what are you currently working on?
Get up before the sun, read and write for a few hours. Work on Ducatis mainly. Rebuilding worn out engines, restoring wrecks, bit of farm work thrown in to keep me fit. Half a dozen of the most worn out, broken, maltreated and weatherbeaten things I have ever seen keep me out of the pub, or will for the foreseeable future.

What’s your favourite way to unwind after a busy day?
Unwinding usually means cooking and scratching around in the wine cellar. I know, it's an Italian thing. I was probably born in the wrong country.

What would you most likely be doing on the weekend?
Weekends? Sun comes up over there, goes down over there. That is another day.

What book are you reading now?
I have a bad habit of reading 4 or 5 books at a time. At the moment:
Bones of Contention — Roger Lewin
The Island of the Day Before -- Umberto Eco
The Romance of Engines — Takashi Suzuki
The Fifth Essence -- Lawrence Krauss
The Physicist and the Philosopher -- Jimena Canales

What’s your favourite place to go for a holiday?
I get away from the world in the mountains between Bologna and Florence. Big mountains, tiny villages and fascinating people. From Porretta Terme to Sambuca Pistoiese crosses the border between Tuscany and Emilia Romagna. Different language, different cuisine different everything.

What's one thing people don’t know about you?
Most people don't know most things about me.


What is the best advice you were ever given and who was it from?
A fella I had worked for, for four and a half years, yelled out across a large room as I walked out the door for the last time: "You'll never do any good in business for yourself, you're too effing honest,"
If I wanted differentiation, that was it.

What’s advice would you give to your teenage self?
What many teenagers lack is self confidence. After having carefully considered the situation the advice would be, "now just do it".

What do you do to turn your day around?
Bad days are usually an overload of seemingly impossible puzzles of busted metal. Go and talk to the pigs. I don't call them pets because the word just doesn't seem to work with creatures that weigh many times what I do and are quite capable of knocking me to the ground, tearing me to bits and eating me. We have an understanding and they don't do that. They are happy, intelligent and possessed of personalities much like humans. Polite well adjusted humans that is. Excellent company.

What inspired you to start volunteering for ROC and what do you enjoy most about being involved?
Watching severe depression overtake my daughter was confronting knowing that suicide can be but a few stops further down that road. Anything to stop that torment and anguish and alleviate its unfortunate consequences is worth the time involved.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
You want more? Isn't that enough on the edge already?

Ricky Calder

What three words would your friends use to describe you?
Aloof, night owl.

What does a typical day look like for you and what are you currently working on?
I wake up relatively late compared to most people to begin with. On the couple of days of the week that I come into ROC, I’m usually out the door by 11:30am and spend the afternoon in the office. Then, if I have work at night, I’m usually getting ready at 6 or 7 for work. By the time I get home after work at midnight or 1am, it’s hard to go straight to sleep.

What’s your favourite way to unwind after a busy day?
I generally listen to some music and catch up on current events. After that, I like to read a bit.

What would you most likely be doing on the weekend?
Most weekend days are very similar to my typical days, because I don’t generally get to have a weekend in the same way others do. However, every Saturday I generally catch up with my friends for lunch!

What book are you reading now?
It by Stephen King. I’m a fairly big fan of his novels, especially his earlier novels.

What’s your favourite place to go for a holiday?
Melbourne, I feel like the city is logically set out but also there are so many hidden bits and pieces to discover too!


What’s advice would you give to your teenage self?
Work hard for your goals but also enjoy things as they come.

What do you do to turn your day around?
If I'm feeling like I need a pick-me-up, I'll generally play some uptempo music and skip most songs in a minor key.

Carly Radley

What three words would your friends use to describe you?
Happy, Caring and Friendly.

What does a typical day look like for you and what are you currently working on?
I am currently working on my fitness. I like to start the day with a coffee and the news, either a walk or run, then off to work I go.

What’s your favourite way to unwind after a busy day?
I like to call into my parents house for a catch up after a busy day and then go home and take my dogs for a walk. 

What would you most likely be doing on the weekend?
I like to wake up naturally without an alarm! I then catch up with my friends and family. I spend Sundays grocery shopping and getting organised for my week ahead. 

What book are you reading now?
I have just finished reading Slow by Brooke McAlary. It is a guide to a simpler and more fulfilled life.

What’s your favourite place to go for a holiday?
I went to Bali for the first time in 2019. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to go back. However, until this crazy time has passed I am going to say Ulladulla or visiting my daughter in Wollongong.

What's one thing people don’t know about me.
I eat offal! My father is Scottish and inherited his love of weird foods. 

What’s the best advice you were ever given and who was it from?
Don’t judge a book by its cover and always listen to your gut feeling. This advice is from my Mum.

What do you do to turn your day around?
Go for a walk to think things over and finish the day with a bath and then listen to an inspirational podcast in bed.