Born and raised in Benalla, with family from Euroa, Mr Brodie was motivated to take part in Movember after losing one of his closest friends to suicide.
Vowing to try to prevent similar tragedies, Mr Brodie knew he needed to do something about the culture and conversations surrounding men’s mental health.
“I wanted to remove the stigma around mental health and start the conversation,” Mr Brodie said.
For 2015’s Movember campaign, Mr Brodie devoted an entire day to raising money with a sausage sizzle at Woolworths Benalla, where he used to work.
The inspiration, Mr Brodie said, came from seeing various other community groups fundraising.
“I work at the Marketplace petrol station in Shepparton East and I was inspired by all the community groups doing their snags and I decided to do my own in Benalla in the front of Woolworths where I used to work,” Mr Brodie said.
As is traditional with Movember, Mr Brodie also grew a moustache, which he continues to do every Movember.
He describes his moustache as a “Burt Reynolds Smokey and the Bandit” moustache.
It takes him about a week to grow it.
When COVID-19 lockdowns were in place, Mr Brodie changed from hosting a sausage sizzle to a raffle, determined to continue fundraising and spreading awareness as he saw lockdowns take a mental toll on many around him.
Though lockdowns have finished, the raffle has continued to this day.
This year’s prizes will be as follows:
First prize: Masport push mower donated by Rose City Mowers.
Second prize: $50 voucher from Intersport Shepparton.
Third prize: $50 voucher donated by Euro Garages Shepparton East (Marketplace petrol station).
Fourth prize: $50 gift card donated by BWS Shepparton and BWS Shepparton East.
As well as the raffle, Mr Brodie sells merchandise, including shirts, stubby holders and hats with the slogan “T-BRO’S Movember, starting the conversation for mental health awareness and suicide prevention”.
Raffle tickets can be bought at the Marketplace petrol station, Intersport Shepparton, Rose City Mowers and Amcal Max in Benalla.
Merchandise can be bought either at BWS Shepparton and BWS Shepparton East or by contacting Mr Brodie on his Facebook or Instagram pages.
Last year Mr Brodie raised $2500 and he has raised just over $8000 since 2015.
For more information, go to https://au.movember.com/mospace/13429717 or find Mr Brodie on Instagram @TylerBrodie23
If you need to speak to someone, contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline on 131 114.
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