RELATED: Riders join awareness walk
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A car parked in Hargreaves Mall on Saturday was a powerful reminder for people to speak up in times of mental anguish.
Racers Garry Boston and his brother, Ricky, showed off a sprint car emblazoned with the face of Garry’s daughter, Bree, who took her own life last May.
It carries the number 23, the age at which Bree died. Her picture looks out from the car’s wings.
Mr Boston said Bree was a fan of the sport and he was building a car for her at the time of her death.
The loss devastated the family.
“I didn’t see any sign of things coming,” Mr Boston said.
“She sent me a goodnight message, ‘I love you, Daddy’, on Saturday night and I got the phone call on Sunday morning at 8 o’clock."
Bree is survived by her four children and twin sister Danii.
“She’d do anything for anyone; she always put other people before herself,” Danii said on Saturday when asked to describe her sister.
The Bostons joined with youth mental health service headspace for the event, hoping it would inspire others in hardship to reach out for assistance.
Ben Keath from headspace Bendigo said it was important people experiencing hardship sought help as soon as possible.
His service, which supports people aged 12 to 25, offers one-on-one counselling services as well as group activities. Clients could also access drug and alcohol support from their Pall Mall site.
The Bostons’ mall display comes a month before the city’s annual walk for families bereaved by suicide. The SPAN remembrance walk departs the Dai Gum San Chinese precinct at 10.45am on Sunday, March 19.
If you are or someone you know is contemplating suicide or battling mental illness, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636.
In an emergency, dial 000.