People in rural areas often have heavy burdens to carry, trying to maintain a way of life as well as a business. Life on the land can be tough but behind the wall of toughness, people are crying on the inside unwilling to open up for fear of being labeled weak, a burden or a failure. All of which is simply untrue.

 “Handshakes and Beyond” is all about sharing your thoughts, and feelings with others. Australia is a country with a “she’ll be right” attitude and while that optimism is encouraged and admired the world over, we sometimes forget that we are human and that some days are not always right. Women generally find it easier to share their feelings with friends but for many men, it’s the hardest thing to do. Boys are told from a very young age that men don't cry. Men do cry but often in silence, unable to express their feelings as freely as women do. More often than not, men will greet each other with a nod and a handshake, a “how you goin?” and that’s it.

So when someone shakes your hand and asks how you're doing, tell them. You might be surprised to find they are in the same boat and even though it might not change anything, just sharing it may help you put things in perspective and see things more clearly.

“Handshakes and Beyond” also recognizes the pressures women in the bush are under too. Quite often it’s the women who are juggling family and the bills as well as helping out on the land after they get back from a day job in many cases. They have to cope with making do without the things that we take for granted and keep their chin up for the sake of the family. This eventually takes its toll emotionally A lack of open communication between partners can trigger a pattern of events that have sadly led to tragic circumstances.

The statistics on depression and suicide in Australia are worryingly high especially in rural areas. Now is the time to turn those stats around and reach out to each other and say "hey mate you're not alone".

The Prairie Oysters recently released a single that deals with this very issue. “When the Dust Settles” is a beautiful, inspirational song with a simple but important message. The words "son don't carry it on your own" is a non-gender specific phrase telling people that farms may be failing but they are not failures as people. When The Dust Settles is about rising above adversity with the help of those we love and that at the end of the day, someone thinks you’re too important to lose. That’s really all that matters after all.

The Prairie Oysters are rapidly making a name for themselves as Melbourne’s premier country band.

The band’s seasoned and accomplished lineup includes:

Mark “Yorkie” Crossley: Vocals, Guitar, Tony Bonnici: Vocals, Bass,
Lee Slater: Vocals, Guitar and Rob Street: Vocals, Drums.

The band have seen the effects of the drought in their travels and in 2007, they began to perform free “Rain Dance” gigs for drought-affected communities all over Victoria and Southern NSW.     

The Prairie Oysters

BlokesnSheilas is an online community for all Australians looking for friends providing a fun, friendly and safe place to meet. Just like an online country pub.

Site administrators Julie Taylor and Tina Dean live on farms in Central Victoria and are all too familiar with the effects of the drought. The idea to set up a rural community site came from the fact that not every one has a little country pub close by and some people find it hard to talk face to face about their private lives. The website gives people the option of staying anonymous while chatting to people from all over the country, looking for friendships and even companionship.

With depression and suicide rates so high in the rural sector, it is now more relevant than ever for rural people to find places where they can talk and share their feelings and know that they are not alone.

Julie and Tina are proud to support Aussie Helpers with 10% of all revenue being directly donated to Aussie Helpers.

BlokesnSheilas

Brian and Nerida Egan established Aussie Helpers in 2002 in Charleville, QLD to help fight poverty and lift the spirits of those affected by drought in the outback. Brian, as a veteran of the Indonesian Confrontation and the Vietnam War in the 1960s who lost his own farm in the 1990s from a combination of drought and personal depression, is no stranger to hard times.

Aussie Helpers have some 40 volunteers who rely on the ever faithful "Bush Telegraph" to find farming families in desperate need of assistance. Aussie Helpers raises all its own funding and is not aligned to any other charity or religious association. Aussie Helpers are all unpaid volunteers making a real difference to the lives of people in the bush. Sometimes helping farmers is more than delivering feed and supplies. Sitting down, sharing a yarn is quite often the most helpful thing anyone can do.

Aussie Helpers

Help and Support

Lifeline          PH 13 11 14    For 24/7 support and help Information service    
Lifeline Self Help Kits    Download help for depression, getting through the drought,  beating panic attacks and more       
Dads In Distress       PH1300 853 437 24 hr   A dedicated support group helping men with trauma of divorce or separation
Beyond Blue        PH 1300 22 4636    Raising awareness and understanding of depression
Beyond Blue For Youths

MensLine Australia       PH 1300 78 99 78    Information about relationships, work, fathering, stress & separation

Transport Help Foundation      Support for Australian truckers and families in need
Headspace         Australia’s National Youth Mental health Foundation
ABC Health and Wellbeing    is an online health website featuring articles, consumer guides, links. and much more
SANE         Innovative programs to improve the lives of people living with mental illness, their family and friends
GROW       12 step focused recovery program for mental health
Depressionet        Resources to locate help and healthcare professionals as well as information about causes,

Blue Pages        The Centre for Mental Health Research
Reach Out          For  youths to reach out for help

Counselling Online    You can communicate with a professional counsellor about an alcohol or drug related concern                                                                                                              
Kids Help Line       PH 1800 55 1800    Free confidential counselling service for 5 to 25 year olds


Drought and Farming

Drought Relief Guide

Australia Gov Drought Assistance

Victorian Drought Support

Elders List Of Drought Support Links        

NFF Drought Information

Dept Human Services Drought Assistance

Drought Force Workforce Help

Young Australian Rural Network     

Farmsafe      Info for making your farm safer
ABC Weather Reports

Centrelink       Information for income support and counsellers  PH 13 61 50

Centrelink Drought Assistance Line   13 23 16
Centrelink Farmer Assistance Line     1800 050 585
Bush Crisis Line and Support Services   1800 805 394   (24 Hour support for rural health practioners)

Men’s Health

Mens Health    Welcome to the Men's Health Advisory Service Website

Mens Health Week     Men’s Health Week  is putting the spotlight on Australia’s rural men

Older Mens Health & Wellbeing     Pomoting the health and wellbeing of older men

Mens Health Magazine      Full of Useful Information

Mens Health Australia      Men's Health Australia is an excellent source of information of men and boys.

Mens Sheds       Is a practical way of addressing men’s issues and helps the local community

Women’s Health

Jean Hailes Foundation     For Womens health

Australian Womens Health Network      Promoting Womens health and wellbeing

Menopause Centre      Provides treatment and advice

                  Family & Health

Better Health     Healthy living information online

Health Insite         Information on important health topics such as diabetes, cancer, mental health etc

About Seniors     Info website for seniors
Health In Forest     The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet i

Youthsafe       Preventing injury to young people

Parenting Ideas      Bringing out the best in kids

Raising Children         Guide for parents
Act Now       Act Now For The Future