NRL star Greg Inglis to visit Dalby, to raise money for mental health services

The rugby league legend will visit the region in June for what is said to be one of his most hands-on projects to help raise money for regional mental health services. See what’s in store here:

Rugby League icon Greg Inglis is heading to Dalby to dine with residents and help raise funds for regional mental health services.

The Dunghutti man will open up about what inspired him to start mental health organisation, the Goanna Academy and open up about his own experience with depression and being diagnosed with bipolar II disorder.

Inglis told the Dalby Herald that in comparison to past events, ‘Dinner with Greg Inglis’ was on a bigger scale and something that brought him great pride.

“There’s going to be a bit of a serious side to it, what I’ve been doing after football and my career, which is the Goanna Academy, and the stigma of mental health,” he said.

“I go around talking about my story and getting people in the room to understand the importance of the work that needs to be done out there.”

Inglis said his presentation would take on a raw and stripped back approach, as he’ll invite guests to understand who he really is.

From previous presentations, Inglis said the questions that come after it are always really surprising and often has found people are taken back by learning he has dealt with similar mental health struggles to them.

“It’s rewarding for me to hear that,” he said.

The evening will also feature raffles, auctions and a three-course meal, and will also shed light on the gap in mental health services, specifically in regional communities.

Inglis said mental health services were more easily accessible in major towns and bigger cities, while regional areas struggled.

“I’ve had chats with people around western NSW and they take about two to six months to see a psychiatrist, that’s pretty hard,” he said.

The former NRL player said he hoped to inspire others by offering insight into what tools he’d used during his own mental health journey.

“I work in the preventive stage of it, give them tools that Headspace provided me and I just go reiterate that. But what I’ve done and what works for me, doesn’t necessarily work for every individual,” he said.

Inglis said he was in the process of organising other events in the community.

“I like to be embedded in the community up there, so I’ll keep returning and keep in touch with the people I’ll be speaking to,” he said.

“There’s a few things we’re working on, hopefully we can spread the Goanna Academy around that area and a bit further.”

The evening, which is in partnership with the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation is on June 18, at the Dalby Events Centre.

Tickets can be purchased here.