IF THERE’S one thing a four-minute video taught Wagga’s Simone Dowding, it’s that anything – no matter how big or small – has the potential to change the world.
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More than a year has passed since Ms Dowding’s short film, The Enemy Within, won WaggaFest, but the clip is still making waves – this time in the US.
Joe Williams, the star of the film, appeared to have it all. But underneath he had a demon that was gnawing at his soul.
The former rugby league player turned mental health crusader will this week present the film to an international health conference taking place in Las Vegas.
It’s a huge accomplishment for Ms Dowding and, she says, for Wagga.
“It makes you proud,” she said.
“I feel we’ve not only got Australia talking about suicide, but we’ve now got the world talking.
“We’re a small city in regional NSW that’s making a huge contribution on the world stage; it’s the small things we do that can make a big difference.”
The Wagga businesswoman said she had been inspired by Williams’ transformation as a leader in suicide prevention.
“He’s become a really powerful voice,” she said.
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