A TEAM of anglers from Lindsay Rural North Queensland has been awarded an early place in the
final round of a national fishing competition supporting rural mental health.
David McDowell heads up Lindsay Rural’s team competing in the 2023 Bayer Big Fish Challenge.
The Bayer Big Fish Challenge is a friendly fishing competition that supports rural mental wellbeing
through a partnership with The Fly Program.
Bayer Crop Science donates $1 per centimetre of the largest fish per species per team to The Fly
Program, funding additional places for rural Australians on mental health retreats.
Ordinarily, the top performing finalists at the end of the year are invited to attend a final round of
competition for the chance to be crowned Bayer Rural Angler of the Year.
However, Bayer Crop Science national key account manager, Ben Thompson, said a change to
the competition rules this year allow Lindsay Rural North Queensland to claim a ticket, being the
top performing team on April 30.
“David’s team had raised $1417 by April 30 this year, just four months into the competition,” Mr
Thompson said.
“The impressive total is not only good news for David, who will now travel interstate to compete for
the title of Bayer Rural Angler of the Year, but it’s also good news for rural Australians more
broadly.
“Bayer’s retreats, which are funded through the competition, address the serious consequences of
the mental health challenge which faces rural Australians.
“We know people living in regional rural Australia face more barriers to accessing healthcare than
those in major cities, making it harder for them to maintain good mental health.
“Bayer is a leader in health and agriculture. This program is just one of the ways in which we are
helping improve the physical and mental health of rural Australians.”
