GRINSPOON frontman Phil Jamieson and 10 of his entertainment buddies will motorcycle in to Bendigo to raise awareness for National Youth Mental Health Foundation headspace on Wednesday.
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He will appear at the Bendigo headspace centre from noon to 3pm as part of Rock and Ride, and will perform a short set, sign autographs and chat with locals.
Jamieson and Big Day Out chief executive officer Adam Zammit organised Rock and Ride, which will see the group motorcycle from the Gold Coast Big Day Out to Adelaide, stopping off at regional towns along the way.
Jamieson’s wife, Julie, Silverchair’s Chris Joannou, Bluejuice’s Jake Stone, Paul Mac, rugby player Nathan Hindmarsh, MTV presenter Kate Peck and Black Dog Ride’s Steve Andrews will also complete the five-day ride.
Jamieson said he was keen to raise awareness of headspace, which provides assistance to young people who are struggling with depression, bullying or drug and alcohol problems.
“I feel a lot of issues facing young people are quite serious (and) it gets a bit marginalised,” he said.
“I want to raise awareness that these centres exist in these towns... and make them less stigmatised and make them cool.
“This is a way to make it a totally acceptable place to go.
“One of the worst things about mental health is that you can feel like they are the only person alive feeling like that.
“I’m trying to get a dialogue about the very real problem and make people feel less isolated.”
The self-professed motorcycle nut said the ride through four states would be “physically taxing and hot”.
While he has ridden motorcycles since he was eight, some on the ride have not had much experience at all.
“There are whole different levels of experience on the ride.
“But everyone was pretty keen to do it.
“It’s going to be a huge adventure and a real sense of camaraderie.
“We’re doing it for the right reasons.”
Jamieson said that if the event was successful, he’d love to make in an annual event.
“I don’t know if we’ll make it an annual event, but I’d love to do it again.”
The event starts at noon on Wednesday, January 23, at the headspace centre at 192 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo.