By Russell Bennett
“One thing about community is that you can’t replace it. You can expand it, but you can’t replace it.”
That was one of the key messages from an inspirational presentation at ‘The Hangar’ – the Emerald Sporting Club – at Chandler Reserve on Saturday night as the Lobbe brothers, Matt, Tom and Caleb opened up about their family’s mental health battle.
The clubrooms were packed with those from the local community who’d came to hear their story, and to support them as they’d done so often in the past.
It truly was the magic of community.
The three brothers spoke in detail of Tom’s battle with schizophrenia, in addition to other mental health challenges the family has faced.
And it was all for the most important of reasons – to make others in the community aware that, if they’re going through their own struggles, they’re absolutely not alone.
Caleb has this year taken on the role as the Emerald Cricket Club’s chaplain. He started playing for the Bombers when he was just eight years old, and is currently involved as a youth pastor at St Luke’s church in Cockatoo.
For anyone who wants to talk, anyone who’s going through their own struggles – he’s there to listen.
The cost of entry to Saturday night’s event was a gold coin donation, with all proceeds going to the Movember Foundation. More than $600 was raised.
“You can leave a community and come back 15, 20 years later and you’re still a part of it. That’s how strong the sense of community is,” Tom said when talking so candidly about his battles.
“This community at the Emerald Cricket Club has been getting around me since I was about 11 years of age. I’m now 27 and I’m still here, so that’s pretty cool.
“The community has been a huge, pivotal turning point in my life. I really needed people to lean on early on in the piece of my illness to get through it to where I am today. Different, various communities have played a pivotal role in my recovery and they still do today.
“Opening up to the community really means you’re not on your own.”
Matt, a ruckman at AFL club Carlton, outlined just why he was so passionate in joining his brothers on Saturday night.
“The reason I’m so passionate in talking about mental health is that I had no idea about it until Tom went through schizophrenia. I had no idea at all,” he said.
“Then mum got diagnosed with depression a couple of years later so that, to me, was a pivotal moment where I realised it could happen to anyone
“I still think there’s a lot of stigma around, but nights like this where you’ve got a sporting club acknowledging mental health and talking about it can just make it so much easier for people going through their own battles.”
Caleb has made it clear that regardless of anyone’s personal beliefs or backgrounds, he’s there to listen. He’s mental health first aid trained, and in coming weeks he’ll be looking to secure his accreditation with Sports Chaplaincy Australia. Anyone needing help can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
