After 5000km, Lenny Deacon makes it to the Apple Isle

A sheep shearer from King Island opens up on the ‘devastating’ reasons he is cycling Australia on his low-rider, three wheeler to raise a big sum of money for mental health research.

Lenny Deacon at Hobart waterfront is a former sheep shearer who is cycling around Australia to raise awareness for mental health. Picture: Caroline Tan

Despite being what some may see as a rough sheep shearer, Lenny Deacon is certainly no stranger to the black dog.

Not only is he riding across Australia on a trike in honour of his mate Dippa Wheaton who died by suicide in 2021, Mr Deacon struggled himself when he couldn’t work as a sheep shearer after working in the role for 16 years.

“When I couldn’t shear anymore, that was devastating for me,” he said.

“Not only was my income taken away but it was my price, my passion, what I loved to do.”

When he became stagnant day-to-day, more negative thoughts crept in.

Mr Deacon has already made it down from Devonport to Hobart, making plenty of stops along the way.

He found the Tasmanian countryside “beautiful”.

“It’s absolutely stunning; if it wasn’t so cold I’d move here,” he said.

Mr Deacon has ridden through the Central Highlands, in gloves and jumpers trying to stay warm.

“I am from Western Australia, you got to remember,” he said.

Despite already going 5500 kilometres through Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland, Tasmania has brought its own obstacles.

“Aside from the first 60 kilometres when I wasn’t that fit yet and cramping up, the biggest challenge has been these hills in Tasmania,” he said.

“They’re something else.”

Lenny Deacon is a former sheep shearer from King Island who is cycling around Australia to raise awareness for mental health pictured with Randall Treloyn at Hobart waterfront. Picture: Caroline Tan

Mr Deacon doesn’t stop, planning on hiking Mount Wellington with mates on his day off.

But that’s the great part of Mr Deacon’s journey across Australia raising money for Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation — he now has mates in all corners of the country.

Which has been helpful when he needs car drivers for his journey; at the moment it’s his mum, Jill.

Mr Deacon will spend about four weeks in Tasmania, often to speak to people, which is a huge motivator for him facing a mammoth task.

“It can be overwhelming at times,” he said.

“At the end of the day, it’s the people and the messages I get. The people I’ve met so far have been amazing. I get some really beautiful messages from people thanking me and letting me know I’ve helped them.”

May is Mental Health Awareness month, and Mr Deacon said exercise had been a huge help for his own mental health but said we can all check in on our friends.

“People tend to lock themselves away and hide away,” he said.

“Talking about it does help, people need to feel comfortable and safe to open up.”

Follow updates on Mr Deacon’s ride via Facebook at Doin It for Dippa.

Originally published as After 5000km, Lenny Deacon makes it to the Apple Isle