This article is about Kyabram resident Sean Cronin, who took his own life in December last year.
On Saturday morning, January 20, more than 50 people arrived at Shepparton gym Nemesis Strength and Conditioning to participate in a workout honouring one of their own.
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The gym partnered with local businesses, such as Shepparton BMW, to provide prizes for the event and also featured the Jam Packed coffee van on-site for attendees.
They raised more than $7500 for mental health support organisation Beyond Blue.
Sean Cronin had started going to Nemesis about two years ago after succumbing to positive peer pressure from his co-workers.
One of his co-workers, Olivia Coulston owns and coaches at Nemesis with her partner, Tareke Le Lievre.
Tareke said Sean had a bit of an addictive personality, which translated to the gym.
“He never batted an eyelid at any challenge,” Tareke said.
“He kept improving and kept moving the goalposts for himself.
“A lot of people in the gym looked up to him and aspired to be like him.
“He represented pure commitment.”
Sean was a big part of the culture at Nemesis.
He competed in CrossFit competitions and was supportive in the gym.
Tareke said Sean took a young teenage boy under his wing and would encourage and support him during the sessions.
“The gym was sort of like his second home,” Tareke said.
“He even had a key.”
Sean was one of just two gym members who received an award from Tareke and Olivia at the Nemesis Christmas party last year, honouring his work ethic and attitude in the gym.
He could be seen smiling and laughing with everyone on the night and talked about what a positive change CrossFit had been for him.
Just a few weeks later Sean took his own life.
Tareke and Olivia organised the fundraiser to raise awareness and funds and also to allow the gym community to come together and grieve the loss of Sean.
Tareke explained that CrossFit culture had military elements and that the gym often did a “hero’s workout” to memorialise a “fallen soldier”.
He incorporated some of Sean’s favourite workouts into one to honour Sean and give him a send-off.
Tareke said Sean’s memorial workout would become an annual tradition within the gym, demonstrating just how much impact he had on the group in just a few years.
Sean’s parents and family made the trip from Melbourne to participate in the workout.
Sean’s sister Lauren Ballard, who was there on the day, said the event at Nemesis and the turnout for Sean’s tribute was “amazing”.
“It shows that Sean didn’t die because he was lonely,” Lauren said.
“He was really loved by his family and his community.”
Lauren said sometimes people struggling with their mental health could be stereotyped as inactive, without many friends or family in their lives.
That certainly wasn’t Sean.
He still had friends from high school he would hang out with regularly.
He had become an umpire in the local footy league and had a group of buddies with whom he would go on golf trips.
Everywhere Sean lived and worked, including Bendigo, Echuca and Kyabram, he made friends and became entrenched in the community.
He loved regional Victoria and would remind his metro family members whenever possible.
You would’ve never known what Sean was going through unless he told you himself.
“Everybody has something going on,” she said.
“That’s why it’s so important to talk about things and continue to normalise it.
“That’s why things like ‘R U OK? Day’ are so important, because are you really okay?
“You can never assume or really know unless you are that person.
“The main thing for us as a family is the out-pour of love and support.
“Talking about it allows people to share stories and be honest.
“I hope that will resonate with people because these things don’t just disappear.”
You can still donate to Nemesis’s fundraiser here: https://nemesis-strength-and-conditioning.square.site/product/remembering-sean-multi/112?cs=true&cst=popular
If you or anyone you know requires crisis support, contact Accessline on 1800 800 944, Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.
Cadet journalist