"It was devastating. We were already on our knees from a crippling drought. If I'm really honest, in hindsight, I probably didn't look after myself very well. I also wanted to appear to be strong so that people could trust me to do the job that I set out to do." Susan Dowling - Co-founder Sisters of the North Charity

In 2019, a massive downpour in Northwest Queensland's cattle country caused a huge flood, which engulfed massive tracts of land. The torrential rain didn't stop for 10 whole days, and for the livestock that survived the flood, there was a hammer blow to come with unseasonably cold winds that caused temperatures to plummet and more cattle to die. Enter Western Queensland's Susan Dowling, who could probably best be described as a reluctant hero. She, with her friends and collaborators, sprung into action and raised well over a million dollars to help patch lives back together. Susan helped many people repair their shattered mental health, but now that the drama has subsided, she's reflected on the impact that episode had on her own wellbeing.

She shares her thoughts on purpose, resilIence and giving back, the things she wished she'd done at the height of the crisis PLUS her favourite driving songs featuring Robbie Williams, The Boss and INXS.

Listen to the Spotify Playlist NEED A LIFT MATE? for a musical mental health boost.

For more help contact:

Lifeline: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au

Beyond Blue: 13 22 46 36 www.beyondblue.org.au

Head to Health: 1800 595 212 www.headtohealth.gov.au

RHealth 07 4638 1377 www.rhealth.com.au

Western Queensland Primary Health Network (WQPHN) 07 4573 1900 www.wqphn.com.au

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