Tribute Mack highlights mental health message

Attcall Civil Contractors has teamed with mental health research and education organisation Black Dog Institute to promote positive attitudes surrounding mental health in the construction sector.

The Smeaton Grange-based operator recently pulled the covers off a stunning new 100 Year Mack Super-Liner, complete with custom airbrush artwork in homage to driver Charles ‘Huddy’ Simons, who lost his mental health battle in 2020.

“Mental health is a concern in our industry, it’s a major concern,” says Attcall owner and managing director, Clinton McKinnon.

“We thought we needed to make a bit more of an effort and get a bit more behind raising awareness about mental health. The Black Dog Institute is primarily a men’s mental health initiative, and our way of looking at it is that our trucks are moving billboards, so we just got behind them any way we could.”

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The distinctive scheme features a sepia-toned Australian flag in keeping with the monochrome theme of the truck, along with a tribute to Huddy.

“Huddy passed away in 2020,” says McKinnon.

“He was a tough guy and all that sort of stuff, but he died because he was too proud to ask for some help.

“All he needed to do was make a phone call and ask for a bit of help and we would have taken him to the doctor. If he had’ve done that he’d probably still be alive today.

“From that day forward we recognized the need to engage with our employees a bit more, to recognize the signs for when people are struggling a little bit. So we thought it fitting to put his image on the door and dedicate the truck to him as well as use the Black Dog Institute to support the cause.

“Our business has been going well and it’s about time to give something back. And this truck is to say that Black Dog is there for you.”

Kat Holeyman, Corporate Partnerships Manager for Black Dog Institute, said the truck was a great way to help spread the message.

“Partnerships like this are so important for us at the Black Dog Institute,” she says.

“We are building awareness, so having a moving billboard going around Sydney, going out to construction sites and just driving along the road means people are seeing what we do and are talking about what Black Dog Institute is and what resources we have.

“We may just get someone to reach out.

“We have come a long way; 10 years ago we wouldn’t have been having this conversation and we certainly wouldn’t be putting something on the side of a truck.

“We still have a long way to go, and that is why stuff like this is so important to the Black Dog Institute, because we need more people talking about mental health and we need more men opening up about their mental health.”

According to the Black Dog Institute, one in five Australians will experience symptoms of mental illness in any given year. That’s roughly five million people – but around 60 per cent of these people won’t seek help.

For more information on the Black Dog Institute click here.