ITTES: Membrey's Transport tackles depression

An intricate die-cast collectible has been produced of the Membrey's Transport beyondblue ‘Rowan' tribute truck to raise awareness of mental health

The Membrey’s Transport group’s beyondblue ‘Rowan’ tribute truck has been replicated in miniature, with a highly detailed Drake Collectibles scale model recently launched at Melbourne’s 2014 International Truck, Trailer & Equipment Show.

Craig Membrey (pictured, wearing green shirt), Managing Director of Melbourne-based Membrey’s Transport & Crane Hire, said he knew nothing about depression until March 17, 2011. That was the day his 17-year-old son, Rowan, committed suicide.

“Rowan lived that common life of a teenage kid – drinking, smoking, nightclubbing – and he got on that deadly stuff called ice, which shot his head and mixed him up,” says Membrey.

“I spoke to Rowan five days before his death and he said, ‘Dad, I need help’. I said to him, ‘Mate, you’ve got the guts to tell me you need help – you’ve got my 100 per cent support.’ But, unfortunately, I didn’t get to my boy quickly enough.”

Membrey says he could have gone “one way or the other” after his son’s death, but a trip to the Mid-America Trucking Show, where he saw plenty of tribute trucks, gave him the idea to produce a tribute truck for Rowan.

A second-hand Kenworth T904 was purchased and Membrey began chasing parts and equipment.

“The word got around and it soon got to the stage where I had to thank people but turn them down because of the massive response,” he says.

PACCAR Australia’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Andrew Hadjikakou, was a major contributor to the project, as was Melbourne’s Hallam Truck Centre (which did the strikingly detailed mural on the back of the cab) and Truckers Toy Store, among others.

Membrey says initially the truck was only ever going to be done up and parked in his shed, but he soon realised the vehicle’s potential as a tool for promoting mental health at truck shows.

Then, when two of Rowan’s friends also took their own lives within a few months of Rowan’s death, Membrey said his tribute truck’s story took another turn.

“After Rowan’s friends took their lives I was furious,” he says.

“I mean, it was three kids in three months – the whole Narre Warren (Vic) area where I live was just in shock. I charged into my office and said to my PA, ‘I need to speak with Jeff Kennett.’”

Membrey eventually did speak with the former Victorian Premier, and Chairman of beyondblue, with that conversation resulting in an official tie-up between Membrey’s tribute truck and the major Australian mental health initiative.

Sales of the Drake Collectibles Membrey tribute truck, of which 500 have been made, will help support beyondblue.

“On March 17, 2011, my life changed,” says Membrey.

“I’ll never be the same but, like I said, you can go one way or the other – and I’ve decided to make something out of this experience.

“This truck goes all around Australia to promote awareness of mental health and remind people that there’s help out there. Suicide is 100 per cent preventable.”

The General Manager for Drake Trailers Australia, Khali Lake, also spoke at the ITTES launch of the replica Membrey tribute truck model.

“We do a lot of charity work but beyondblue is very close to our heart,” he says.

“To be able to bring this model to market has been a labour of love and a lot of the credit has to go to Bruce Hay, Business Development Manager for Drake Collectibles. A lot of effort has gone into this and we’re very proud of the result.”

Kate Carnell AO, CEO of beyondblue, was presented with the very first Drake Collectibles Membrey tribute truck model.

“In Australia today one million people are living with depression and two million people are living with an anxiety disorder,” she says.

“Today seven people will die as a result of suicide – that’s 49 people each week, and of those 37 are men. If that many people died on our roads we’d all be calling on the government to do something but, as Craig said, this is preventable.

“Our trick is to look after our mates. When we see someone in our lives struggling, sit down with them quickly and ask them, ‘You don’t seem to be yourself mate – can I help? Can I just listen?’

“We’ve got to get better at this because we can save lives if we do. If every single one of us takes a personal pledge that we will have the conversation with somebody close to us who we think might be doing it tough, Australia will be a better place.

“Australia is a better place, however, for having Craig Membrey. Craig has been our ambassador and spread the word about mental health right across Australia. The truck gets a great viewing and it’s fantastic to have an ambassador who is as committed and as passionate as Craig is about ensuring that other Australians don’t go through the tragedy he’s gone through with his family.”

Mike Dozier, Managing Director of PACCAR Australia, says the company is proud to be associated with Craig Membrey’s work with beyondblue.

“The passion that Craig has for life, for everything he does, offers an example for all of us to follow,” he says.

“Take care of the ones you love – watch people, and ask them if they don’t look right.

“I never had the opportunity to meet Rowan but if he was even just a small piece of his father, I certainly wish I had. We couldn’t be more honoured to be part of this whole activity.”

The Drake Collectibles Membrey tribute truck model is priced at $189 for the truck on its own and $458 for the truck, trailer, and dolly. For more information, or to buy one for yourself, visit www.thedrakeshop.com and click on the ‘Kenworth Models’ tab.

For more information about depression call 1300 224 636 or visit www.beyondblue.org.au.

ITTES: Membrey's Transport tackles depression

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