Money for mental health: Blue comb trailer tasked with a more important task than transporting header fronts

A royal blue comb trailer created by Wongan Hills Engineering has been tasked with a much more important purpose than just transporting header fronts from farm to farm — spreading the message about mental health. The creation — debuted at the Dowerin GWN7 Machinery Field Days — was put up for sale at the event with all profits donated to a WA-founded mental health organisation called the #6Bs. Moora-based business RedMac Ag purchased the comb trailer this week to use transporting header fronts from farm-to-farm. Taking into account the profit and a donation from Wongan Hills Engineering, a total $2500 was donated to the #6Bs. RedMac Ag Moora dealer principal Brett Young joked it was one of the only pieces of blue equipment he would ever buy, with the business specialising in CASE IH machinery — which is red. “We are conscious that farmers are doing it hard with labour shortages and stressful times, high costs of production, and anything we can do to help farmers is a good cause,” Mr Young said. “We are always short of comb trailers so we will use it for transporting fronts out to farms and picking up fronts for repair. “We won’t sell it, we will use it for internal purposes.” The #6Bs group was founded by now well-known Watheroo farmer Brad Millsteed and has a simple premise: bring blokes living regionally across the State by encouraging them to engage in six ethos. This includes blokes, barbecues, bonfires, bonding, beer and bulldust. Wongan Hills Engineering marketing manager Elyssa Giedraitis said the family-owned business was inspired to create the comb trailer as a way to encourage farmers to talk about their mental health. It is best suited to a 40-foot or smaller header front, while it is fitted with MacDon fronts, it can easily be changed by Wongan Hills Engineering before going home with the buyer. “I have struggled with my mental health for a very long time and recently lost a friend to suicide,” Ms Giedraitis said. “Men also struggle with their mental health but often don’t talk about it. We really wanted to do something to help an organisation that supports mental health, and people we know.” Ms Giedraitis said she had heard a lot about #6Bs work through Twitter and in the rural press, and was delighted that all of the profits from the sale of the comb trailer would go to the organisation. It is the 46th comb trailer Wongan Hills Engineering has made this year, and at the time of print on Tuesday was still available for sale. “We had a lot of people coming through (at Dowerin GWN7 Machinery Field Days) so hopefully we can get more blokes talking about their mental health and involved in the group,” she said. Since establishing the #6Bs, Mr Millsteed has gone from a Watheroo farmer to one of the best-known mental health advocates outside of Perth. He has done it by tapping into powerful emotions related to men talking to their mates and encouraging blokes to get together and when apart, to keep in touch. The group held its first gathering on May 8, 2017, and has gone on to hold more than a dozen since.