Cover image courtesy of Kembla Grange
The event is being run in conjunction with Racing Mates and the Illawarra Turf Club and is dedicated to raising awareness and vital funds for mental health and wellbeing initiatives, with local service providers also on-site hosting pop-up information stands.
Mental health remains an issue across Australia
Mental ill-health remains a pressing issue in Australia, with one in two people likely to experience a condition during their lifetime. Alarmingly, 8.6 Australians die by suicide each day, with men accounting for 75 per cent of those deaths.
The racing industry is not immune to this and Racing Mates Ambassador Pat Webster commented, “It’s important that we check in with each other and encourage those requiring further help to seek support.
“Whether they're going through something big, something small, or maybe nothing at all, your support can help. Your conversation could change a life.”
Pat Webster | Image courtesy of Racing Mates
From 11.30am, Racing Mates will host a BBQ near the raceday stalls for stable staff, jockeys, trainers and ground staff. Pat Webster and other Racing Mates Ambassadors will be there to catch up with participants, share a bite to eat, and provide a listening ear.
“We try to do an event every couple of months - three weeks ago we did one at Parkes,” Webster said.
“We try and get out to the salt-of-the-earth places. It is very different out there, it’s not quite as easy as for participants in town. Strappers and stable hands may need to get up very early, they don’t get a chance or the facilities to get something to eat or have a shower, so it’s good to be able to have a BBQ and provide lots of water and an ear to listen.
“We go around giving warm beanies out and make sure everyone is okay. I have been there and done it, and I know it’s not easy.”
“We go around giving warm beanies out and make sure everyone is okay. I have been there and done it, and I know it’s not easy.” - Pat Webster
Webster is encouraged by how far the industry has come in recognising the importance of mental health, but believes it’s a journey that still requires commitment and awareness.
“The awareness around mental illness these days is great, but that doesn't mean we give up the fight to help people. It would have been great if it had been around a long time ago, but it wasn’t. Also, farmers really need this help, but we can’t do everything.
“So many people ring up for donations or want to help, but we aren’t a charity in that way, clubs put on these events and we assist them.
“I’m not new to this. I have lost two really good friends to mental illness, it’s not something I have just stepped into.”
Racing Mates website proves a vital industry resource
A cornerstone of the initiative is the Racing Mates website, which offers a suite of resources including direct helplines, referral pathways, and useful information tailored to racing industry needs.
“The website is great—it gives people valuable resources that they can reach and a number that they can call. What we do on the racedays just touches the sides, the website is the heart of the programme.”
Racing Mates website promotion | Image courtesy of Racing Mates
“We have been well-supported by Racing New South Wales and we also do a lot for people behind the scenes. At the start of the programme, if we helped one person it would have been worthwhile, but I know for a fact we have helped plenty. A lot of people do reach out and let us know, and it is acknowledged,” Webster said.
This year’s 'Race Against Suicide' meeting marks a significant milestone, with the entire raceday allocated to promoting mental health awareness, a shift Webster views as a major step forward.
“That would never have happened five years ago, maybe even two years ago. It’s great that we are all being made more aware than ever. It can only be good and hopefully it helps even more people.”
Racing Mates – mates looking out for mates
Racing Mates is a peer support initiative established by Racing NSW, built on a simple but powerful message: mates looking out for mates.
While access to clinical psychologists, counsellors, and helplines is essential, and available, many people are more likely to initially open up to a trusted peer or colleague. Research supports this, showing peer-led support plays a vital role in helping people cope with stress and navigate tough situations.
Racing Mates promotion | Image courtesy of Racing Mates
This is where the Racing Mates Ambassadors come in. They're not professional counsellors, but they offer an approachable and understanding first point of contact. Their role is to listen, relate, and guide people toward the professional help they may need.
Each Ambassador brings a mix of industry experience, accredited training, and lived understanding of the unique challenges within racing. This combination allows them to genuinely connect with those doing it tough, whether on the track, at the stables, or behind the scenes.
Meet the Ambassadors
The program is supported by a committed and respected group of individuals from across the racing industry including:
Pat Webster – Accredited Racing NSW Drug and Alcohol Mentor; Former Trainer and Jockey
Phillip O’Brien – Racing Mates Executive Officer and General Manager – Participant Welfare
Father Tom Stevens – Catholic Racing Chaplain to the ATC
Rev. Colin Watts – Racing Chaplain
Kim Waugh – Group-winning Provincial Trainer
Nick Olive – Group-winning Country Trainer
Dale Jeffries – Apprentice Jockey Coach; Former Jockey
Rodney Quinn – Racing NSW Apprentice Mentor; Former Jockey
Grant Buckley – Professional Jockey
Leonie Ferreira – General Manager, Marketing – Racing NSW; Certified Mental Health Support Worker
Together, these Ambassadors are working to create a more compassionate and connected industry, one where everyone knows they have someone in their corner.
Whether you need someone to talk to, a trusted ear, or simply a friendly face who understands the pressures of racing, Racing Mates is here to help.
