ADAM Altmann from Team Pursehouse, Gunnedah New South Wales, has been crowned as the 2019 Bayer Big Fish Challenge Rural Angler of the Year. The year-long challenge, raising funds and awareness for men’s mental wellbeing, culminated on Monday at Lake Currowong, Tasmania where the finalists met to battle it out.
Bayer’s Ben Thompson congratulated Altmann and all the participants in the challenge on their commitment to the cause. Together the participants raised $25,000 to support men’s mental wellbeing programs.
“The experience isn’t just about fishing and raising money. Big Fish Challengers have the opportunity to learn about the importance of talking to your mates and taking the time to recharge the batteries.
“We know it can be difficult for men to take a break when they need it, so we hope the challenge gave them an incentive to look out for one another, while also having fun,“ Thompson said.
The culminating Challenger weekend included mental health exercise sessions and talks from Matt Tripet from The Fly Program.
The Bayer Big Fish Challenge contributes $1 per centimetre of the largest fish per type caught by each team to the Bayer AgSpirit Fund. All funds go directly to helping rural Australian men struggling with the pressures of everyday life.
In 2020, the AgSpirit Fund will send up to 16 nominated rural men on the Bayer AgSpirit Retreat – a fully funded four day men’s mental wellbeing program developed in conjunction with The Fly Program.
As the winner of the challenge, Team Pursehouse will get to nominate two members of its team to attend the AgSpirit Retreat. All 10 participants at the finals weekend had the opportunity to nominate a man from their rural community to attend the AgSpirit retreat.
Adam Altmann, from Team Pursehouse said he was delighted to participate in the challenge and help raise awareness of men’s mental health and wellbeing.
“I love going fishing and to be able to raise money and awareness for men’s mental wellbeing is an added bonus,” Altmann said.
“It’s great to be able to go home and share what I’ve learnt with people who are going through some challenges.”
