Community
26 March, 2025
No one's left behind at the Barkly Hotel
The Mount Isa pub hosted a Mental Health Day on Saturday.
The unwavering efforts of Barkly Hotel staff have turned tragedy into a triumph, hosting a day of fun and frivolity while also raising mental health awareness.
The cause behind the Barkly’s mental health day on Saturday couldn’t have been more serious, with the hotel losing three of its regular patrons to suicide in the past 12 months.
As each incident added a new wave of shock across the business, the staff began discussing how they might try to understand what was occurring and how to respond.
Hinemaurea “Rea” Ruru can be found working behind the bar at the hotel most days of the week.
She said all the staff knew the three individuals who took their own lives.
“These guys would all come into the hotel just about every day – they became our friends,” she told North West Weekly.
“We got to their know their stories and we knew all three of them were struggling, they were all pretty open about it.
“But nothing can really prepare you for what happened.”
Rea said it was after the third incident in December that a small group of staff approached their bosses and suggested the idea for a mental health awareness day.
“Our managers were really supportive, and they agreed without any hesitation,” she said.
The group brought together a raft of community groups and businesses for a jam-packed day.
The Barkly Boozers eight-ball pool team hosted a drive-thru breakfast barbecue, the RSL donated a slew of Irish Club vouchers, several gyms donated hundreds of dollars in free memberships, a handful of barbers were roped into giving free trims and the Music Shak provided the afternoon’s entertainment on stage.
The ever-popular goldfish races drew a crowd around the pool tables competed on.
Some of the mental health providers filled tables with literature detailing the services available in the city.
Photo tributes stood stoically at the entrance of the event, reminding all who passed by of those lost too soon.
Rea said it was MC Tonka Toholke’s story that brought home the message of the day.
“Tonka told everyone to step in and do something if they believe someone is in trouble,” she explained.
“He said even if that person hates you afterward, it doesn’t matter as long as they’re still here.”
“I think the big thing we wanted to do was bring men’s mental health to the front and centre.
“There really still is a stigma and we need to be doing all we can to make men feel comfortable about speaking about this.”
Rea said the event raised more than $6000 for the Mount Isa Men’s Shed and Men’s Circle.
She said there were already plans to host a similar event at the end of the year.