Mountaineer Paul Macauley has braved icy peaks and climbed slippery cliffs, but his steepest uphill battle was a battle with his own mental health.
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He managed to claw his way out of depression and went on to start Project Into the Light, a not-for-profit that aims to help other blokes struggling through tough times.
Mr Macauley said he hopes to bring an empathetic ear to the table, having been in the same boat last year and finding little solace in the counsellors, doctors, and psychologists he met.
"All they wanted to do was put me on anti-depressants. That's cool, and it might suit a lot of people, but it didn't suit me," he said.
After a long period of soul-searching Mr Macauley realised that his life felt empty even before the break-up, and that his career as a panel beater was not giving him a sense of meaning.
"I found out in the end that everything I wasn't doing in life wasn't filling my cup: we're brought up to work, make money, have the best cars, the nicest houses," Mr Macauley said.
"That's what I used to strive for, but I came to the realisation that work's not everything; I got down to my true purpose, what I wanted to do with my life."
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He decided to take drastic action, so he sold his house and spent six months training to climb the 6960 metre tall Mount Aconcagua to raise money for men's mental health.
He shivered through minus 30 degree temperatures and dizzyingly low oxygen levels, but Mr Macauley described the journey as a "walk in the park" compared to his struggle with mental health.
Despite the blistered feet and altitude sickness, Mr Macauley described it as a strangely spiritual experience.
"When I was out in nature I could just be myself; I didn't have to be someone I wasn't," Mr Macauley said.
"When you're out there you're away from the pressures of work, from the limitations society puts on you as a person."
He made it to the summit after 14 days of climbing, and when he returned to Wagga he continued his journey to help the blokes of Wagga open up and talk candidly about their struggles.
"A lot of us blokes don't talk about our problems, but once they lose that ego and be their true selves they can start feeling better about themselves," Mr Macauley said.
"It's a huge thing, just to open up to someone and talk about your problems. The amount of courage it takes to open up to someone is huge, but when you do open up there's no better feeling."
Project Into the Light's first fundraiser for the year will be a barefoot bowls afternoon on March 14 from 2pm to 5pm, with all money raised going to men's mental health causes.
Further details about the event can be found on Mr Macauley's website projectintothelight.org
If you or anyone you know is suffering from depression or anxiety you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
