Blue Tree Project

It's moments like these that remind us why this work matters

A long one, but worth the read 💙

Years ago, a man came to hear our CEO Kendall speak at a mine site presentation. He heard about the loss of her brother Jayden and the story behind the very first blue tree.

At the time, he was carrying unimaginable grief after losing his sister to su***de. A loss so heavy, he was learning how to carry it while putting one foot in front of the other.

After a long shift, he could have gone back to his donga and stay silent. Instead, he chose to stay and listen.

That night, after hearing Kendall speak, he broke down while painting a blue tree. For the first time, he opened up about the weight he had been carrying alone.

Years later, Kendall still shares this moment in presentations because it captures something about why these conversations matter.

It's a reminder that being present for someone can matter more than we ever know and that long after conversation ends, the feeling of being heard remains.

Last month, they crossed paths on another mine site. He came over to Kendall and shared that hearing her presentation all those years ago, was the beginning of his mental health journey.

Since then he's been having weekly sessions with ManAble and his life looks very different today.

Stories like this are why we keep showing up in the prevention space, even when it's not easy. Because we've seen how one honest conversation and one blue tree can become the turning point where everything begins to change for someone.

Sometimes the impact of a conversation isn't seen right away and it can take years to understand just how far it's reached 💙

True reconciliation isn't something that sits in a statement or a single week.

It's something we're responsible to live out in our actions. It means listening to First Nations voices, understanding their experiences beyond what the history books tell us and standing alongside the cultures, stories and strength that have lived on this land for thousands of years.

It's in the spaces we create for one another, where people from all backgrounds feel respected, seen and safe enough to talk about how they're really going and reach out when they need support.

When we work together to understand each other, we are building stronger, more respectful relationships that help shape a more connected future for all Australians.

📍 Gidgee Healing, Doomadgee