Paul Murcott is on a journey to shine a light on mental health by trekking more than 1000km.
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After about 900km beginning in February from Adelaide, Mr Murcott has stopped in Wagga ahead of the final 250km stretch to Canberra.
Mr Murcott lost his daughter to suicide in November last year and is doing the Trek for Shona Mai in her name.
"The more people talk about [suicide] and get comfortable talking about it, maybe the less it will happen," he said.
"I was in shock when I lost Shona, I wasn't taking care of myself, I gave up alcohol about 10 years previously and am very glad I had because I don't think I would have found the bottom of the bottle if I hadn't, I would have just tried to drink into oblivion."
Being able to focus on the trek helped Mr Murcott through his loss, building a cart from scrap metal to take essentials like food and water with him on the open road.
"I call [the cart] Yin Yang Mark 3 which now has the go kart motor in the back to help me get along, Mark 2 had a few more sturdy bits of scrap added to my original make, Mark 1," he said.
Aside from raising awareness, the journey has helped Mr Murcott's own state of mind as he met many people along to way who became his friends.
"This trip has completely renewed my faith in humanity," he said.
"I was at the lowest of lows before I started and this has lifted me out of that space."
Mr Murcott isn't doing the trek alone.
"I have my dog RJ with me, which stands for 'real joy' because that's exactly what she is," he said.
"I rescued her eight years ago now."
The road has not been easy for Mr Murcott with many challenges along the way.
"It's been tough on a few of the bridges where it gets narrow or it goes down to one lane so it is a bit risky, I don't want to get hit but also don't want to hold up traffic," he said.
"But then one of the best sunrises I have ever seen was just before Mildura along the trek."
Heading off to his next location, Oura Beach, on Sunday morning, Mr Murcott is hoping to make it to the next sitting of Parliament in February 2020.
"I've got a petition going called Stop Suicide Across the Board," he said.
"The bottom line is to question a minister to make changes to help for mental health.
"Raising awareness is the main thing, it's still too much of a taboo subject and it shouldn't be."
If you or someone you know is struggling, contact:
- Lifeline - 13 11 14
- Suicide Call Back Service - 1300 659 467
- Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800
- MensLine Australia - 1300 78 99 78