Rebecca Tyler

Where are you from?

Dallas, Texas USA but live in Mt Martha now 🙂

When did you join CC?

Joined CC around February 2019

Why did you join CC & what you hope to achieve?

I joined CC after I lost my twin sister to suicide. I am hoping to make a difference within my community and if I am able to help save one life in the process, then it has all been worth it. I hope to help support others that are also dealing with suicide bereavement.

Tell us your favourite food

Favorite food is barbeque ribs Texas style of course

What is your spirit animal & why?

My favourite spirit animal is the butterfly – I seem to see them everywhere now since my sister has passed. She loved butterflies and had a butterfly tattoo on her ankle so I feel as if she is with me every time I see one. 

What gives you hope or what is your mantra/life motto?

LOVE is what gives me hope. My life motto is to listen better and take the time to stop and have conversations with people. 

Fiona Susan Ryan

Where are you from?

Originally from Lake Bolac in Western Victoria now Frankston

When did you join CC?

2017 or 18

Why did you join CC & what you hope to achieve?

I joined CC after my daughter Tess took her life and I hope to find a way to make sure that other familes do not have to go through the pain and sorrow that we have experienced.

Tell us your favourite food

Strawberry Ice-cream with Flake mix in

What is your spirit animal & why?

Dogs, dogs, dogs. They are amazingly intelligent, loyal and loving and they tune into your mood.

What gives you hope or what is your mantra/life motto?

Not quite a life motto but a quote that got me through some really tough times is “Courage does not always roar, sometimes it is a small voice which says I will try again tomorrow.”

Alison (Aly) Madden

Where are you from?

Biitern on the Mornington Peninsula

When did you join CC?

March 2019

Why did you join CC & what you hope to achieve?

I lost my brother Steve to suicide in 2015 so I joined Chasing Change to raise awareness around mental health issues and support grass roots suicide prevention initiatives. I hope our initiatives will reduce the incidence of suicide and suicide attempts and improve the general wellbeing of the Frankston/ Mornington Peninsula communities.

Tell us your favourite food

Chocolate except Turkish delight

What is your spirit animal & why?

I’m a bear. I’m grounded and like to feel useful and inspire others while standing against adversity. I like my quiet time and rest.

What gives you hope or what is your mantra/life motto?

It doesn’t cost anything to be kind. Sprinkle kindness wherever you go ?

Mick Simmons

Where are you from?

Born in London along time ago, however I did do my schooling in Zurich, Switzerland and have been in Australia since 1994

When did you join CC?

I joined CC a couple of years ago when I was asked to MC the World Suicide Prevention Walk

Why did you join CC & what you hope to achieve?

It was important to me to find people that wanted something that I really wanted and that was to do my part at reducing suicides in the community that I and my family live in.

Tell us your favourite food

As a chef, I have spent years cooking food for others so my favourite food is anything cooked by someone else.

What is your spirit animal & why?

Cat, I want to be able to follow the sun around the house

What gives you hope or what is your mantra/life motto?

I truly believe that if we increase the number of people educated in our community, we will be able to support our friends, work mates, teammates and our families. This will lead to early intervention, less people dealing with severe cases of mental health struggles and it will be a big step to help those thinking of suicide.

Andrew Joseph (AJ, Jo, Dad)

Where are you from?

Born and raised on the Mornington Peninsula and currently live in beautiful Mount Martha.

When did you join CC?

Day 1 baby ?

Why did you join CC & what you hope to achieve?

I joined through my role within the Youth Services team at the Mornington Peninsula Shire. My hope is for a happy, healthy and connected community.

Tell us your favourite food

I love a good BBQ if friends and family are involved. Don’t mind a burnt snag either.

What is your spirit animal & why?

I am a bit like my cat Jasmine. Loves to sleep but full of energy and really loves a cuddle

What gives you hope or what is your mantra/life motto?

Surround yourself with good humans.

Greg Roberts

Emma Gibb

Where are you from?

I’ve always lived in the south-east suburbs of Melbourne, currently living in Patterson Lakes.

When did you join CC?

2023

Why did you join CC & what you hope to achieve?

I lost my husband Mark to suicide in 2021.  In 2023, I started working for Support After Suicide, a program that has provided incredible support to me and our son after Mark’s passing, and I was invited to join the Chasing Change team. With the CC team, I hope to provide opportunities for us to gather as a community, to remember our loved ones, share our stories, and support each other in our grief.

Tell us your favourite food

Anything potato related – hot chips, mash, roast potatoes – with plenty of salt and butter.

What is your spirit animal & why?

I’d have to say the magpie. I was born into a family of Collingwood supporters – after following them for all of my life, through the highs and lows, one of the best days of my life was seeing them win their premiership in 2023, with my Dad and my older brother Matt, and celebrating with the rest of my family afterwards.

What gives you hope or what is your mantra/life motto?

Community gives me hope. I gain so much strength from others who have experienced the loss of a loved one by suicide.  I believe in treating everyone with kindness and compassion, and since Mark’s passing, I try to find joy in every day, not only for myself, but for our son as well.

Kayla Shelbourne

Where are you from?

Somerville, Mornington Peninsula born and raised.

When did you join CC?

2016 I am a proud founding member of the team

Why did you join CC & what you hope to achieve?

Chasing Change was started in late 2016 after a confronting year of youth suicides in the area. We recognised the need for a collaborative approach to addressing this community issue. I hope we can educate and equip our community with the skills to support one another. I hope we can empower those who find themselves in crisis to seek help and start their recovery journey. The ultimate goal is to not be needed at all and to reduce the rate of suicide all together. 

Tell us your favourite food

Anything with cheese and sour cream! Nachos, burritos, tacos, baked potatoes.

What is your spirit animal & why?

Elephants are my favourite animal of all time. They are peaceful creatures, they are family orientated, and they grieve their loved ones just like us.

What gives you hope or what is your mantra/life motto?

Working alongside people who are passionate about bettering the community inspire and motivate me. Working with people who channel their unimaginable grief into something positive for the community gives me hope for a better future.

Georgia Hocking 

Social Worker and one of the cofounders of It’s Okay not to be Okay.

When did you join CC?

I joined Chasing Change in 2016 after losing my younger brother Ben to suicide. Ben was 22 years old and it was a complete shock to everyone.

Why did you join CC & what you hope to achieve?

My goals are to keep starting the conversation around mental health with people who may have never even though about suicide prevention or mental health before.

Tell us your favourite food

My favourite food is hot chips with extra chicken salt.

What is your spirit animal & why?

My spirit animal is a panda because their main goals are eating and sleeping just like mine

What is your mantra/life motto?

“Never think that what you have to offer is insignificant. There will always be someone out there that needs what you have to give”

Kate McLoughlin

Where are you from?

Frankston

When did you join CC?

2016

Why did you join CC & what you hope to achieve?

I joined Chasing Change with the hope that sharing my experience as a mother bereaved by suicide, I could help to prevent the loss of more lives in my community. I hope to inspire and educate others to actively seek help when in crisis and to increase the awareness and reduce the stigma that surrounds suicide.

Tell us your favourite food

Peanut M&Ms.

What is your spirit animal & why?

My spirit animal, according to an online quiz, is a cat: The cat is independent and curious. You may find that you are often drawn to darkness, wanting to uncover what hides within the unknown. You have vast life experiences that make you adventurous and emotionally deep.

Personally, I like hanging out with my dogs…

What gives you hope or what is your mantra/life motto?

What gives me hope is the strength of the human spirit and knowing that tomorrow is a new day full of possibility

While I don’t have a specific mantra, I do believe we should all show kindness in everything we do

Sam Grigg

Where are you from?

Born and raised on the Mornington Peninsula. Have lived in Somerville for all my life.

When did you join CC?

I joined Chasing Change in the beginning of 2019 after being involved in the organisation turned into Chasing Change since high school.

Why did you join CC & what you hope to achieve?

I was involved with Kayla (one of the founding members of Chasing Change) in another charity that she created when we were in high school. After a year or two break from being involved with not for profits I decided to get involved again.

I am incredibly passionate about the area of suicide prevention and mental health.

I hope to help Chasing Change transition into fully fledge organisation who are financially sustainable in order to create meaningful and impactful change in our local communities.

Tell us your favourite food

Pizza. No question about it.

What is your spirit animal & why?

Hmm, I have always liked Mountain Goat’s. They fear nothing and traverse some of the most difficult terrains in the world with the utmost confidence and optimism. I like this outlook and attitude on life.

Or maybe it is dolphins – no good reason except they’re pretty cool.

What gives you hope or what is your mantra/life motto?

People give me hope. Sometimes its hard to see the good in the world but you can always find people doing awesome things if you look hard enough.

My life mantra is:

“It is better to trust and be deceived, than to suspect and be wrong”