In Wentworth, nestled in the far southwest corner of NSW near Mildura, an almond farmer with a passion for his land and community has turned his personal struggles into an avenue of community connection with an annual Men’s Mental Health Cricket Match.
Sholto Douglas is the driving force behind the annual event held at Dareton Oval, which brings joy to many and has also played a crucial role in raising awareness about mental health.
Around the year 2000, Sholto and his family made the quantum leap from farming sheep and wheat to becoming almond growers. It was during this period of radical change that Sholto experienced his first bout of depression.
“That was the first time I was bitten by the ‘black dog’,” Sholto recalls. “I didn’t exactly know what was wrong, but I knew something was amiss when a friend I played tennis with invited me over for tea and told me he thought I wasn’t right.”
This was difficult for Sholto to hear at the time, but in reflection, he appreciates his friend reaching out to him and admits he fumbled his way through his first bout of depression.
“The first time, I kept it to myself and didn’t speak to anybody – I only told my wife and basically just left it at that. The second time was during covid and this time I really knew I was in trouble,” he said.
“The big difference this time was I didn’t just go back on medication; I started talking to people and opened up, and immediately felt a lot better.”
Always a keen cricketer, Sholto had already revived a historical annual community cricket match between the neighbouring towns of Pooncarie and Anabranch in 2016, and when his second bout of illness occurred, the idea was born to evolve it into something more.
“I thought to myself – why don’t we have this match for a purpose, and why not mental health?”
Drawing on his own lived experience, he reached out to his local RAMHP Coordinator, Marie Kelly who organised an information night before the 2017 match, and to their pleasant surprise the room was overflowing with people interested in learning more about mental health.
Marie says “the value of these events is immeasurable. I’ve had the privilege of listening and offering support when local people are doing it tough.”
As the cricket match enters its ninth year, Sholto is excited about the future. The event continues to grow, attracting more participants, more spectators, and more attention each year. But for Sholto, the heart of the event remains the same: In a remote region where services can be stretched, it has inspired others to seek help.
“I just think it’s vitally important the community comes together for a family event and just enjoys each other’s company. There are people playing cricket that have never played cricket, but the main thing is we’re getting people together to have a chat and talk about their year.”
These days while Sholto manages his mental health getting the support he needs, “life is pretty damn good”. He credits his openness about his own struggles as a key part of his recovery, and not only has he hit the ‘black dog’ for six, but he has also helped create something very special for the Wentworth region.