How some paint and a dead tree may have saved lives in this Riverina village
In the weeks immediately following the painting of Big Springs' blue tree, Brad Collins received several phone calls.
People the local RFS chaplain had never spoken to picked up the phone and reached out to him.
They asked for help. They shared their worries. They made a connection when they felt alone.
That is the impact of the Blue Tree Project.
Reminders to reach out
The announcement of the HumeLink West project sent shivers through spines across Riverina's villages. Big Springs, 25 minutes from Wagga, was not exempt.
It was a heightened time within the small but mighty village. People were concerned about the impacts on their land and businesses.
Andrew Hamilton and Brad Collins with the Blue Tree at Big Springs. Picture by Bernard Humphreys
They were anxious about the future and coming off a bad farming season.
The overall feeling of the area was one of despair.
Meanwhile, local Andrew Hamilton was making his way across NSW as an arborist, aiding in the recovery of the Black Summer bushfire.
Moving through small towns, some days, he felt more like a counsellor than a labourer.
It was then he first saw a blue tree.
"In the small communities, we saw probably six or seven blue trees that had been painted after the bushfires, and that's what made me raise my awareness of it all," Mr Hamilton said.
"We went into 160 jobs and probably spoke 300 people, some people were fine, but for other people we weren't there as tree cutters some days, we were there as counsellors really."
While Mr Hamilton said a blue tree might not need to be painted on every corner, he was glad to know that the public artwork had positively impacted his community.
"A lot of people don't think it's okay to talk, but you have to talk," he said.
A prank between friends becomes a phenomenon
Blue trees have become a worldwide phenomenon in the last seven years, with more than 1500 trees painted.
So it's no surprise the Big Springs tree isn't the only one to have popped up in the Riverina.
Wagga, Young, Leeton, and Gundagai are home to some of the more than 20 trees painted in the region.
The aptly named Blue Tree Project began in 2019 in the memory of Western Australian Jayden Whyte, who died by suicide in 2018.
Andrew Hamilton and Brad Collins with the Blue Tree at Big Springs. Picture by Bernard Humphreys
He and his friend Tjarda Tiedeken had painted a dead tree blue as a prank in 2014; now, they are symbols of hope dotted across the country.
As recently as last year, Narrandera and Tumut added trees to the project's register.
While some of the trees are painted in memory of lost loved ones, the project hopes those and others can be symbols of hope.
"Prevention is much better than the cure," Mr Collins said.
"If we can prevent someone from completing suicide, then that's an absolute win.
"Andrew and I had phone calls within the first couple of weeks of that tree being painted blue, and we know that it really assisted some people in reaching out for help when they might not have.
"There really is a real-world impact. They really do stand out."
Mr Collins said there was abundant support available in the community through professional programs and individual support networks.
He said as long as the trees remind people it is normal to experience highs and lows, he was happy to see more popping up across the country.
Support is available for those who may be distressed.
Lifeline 13 11 14
Men's Referral Service 1300 776 491
Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
beyondblue 1300 224 636