Shownotes Transcript
tonight's games. Roosters Manly. Now this should be an absolute cracker as we gear up for this one at Allianz Stadium. 7.35 kickoff and the reason I wanted to zero in on it is because they are playing for the Gotcha for Life Cup between the Roosters and Manly and our great mate Gus Warland who yes works on another radio network but that's okay we're here to support his wonderful charity and foundation because he does some incredible work
in the community. And he said something to us when we saw him at the airport the other day, and that is that there is no government funding given to his foundation, which I think is an absolute bloody disgrace. All we have is politicians standing there talking about, you know, the need for us to do more on mental health-related issues, and they stand there and they, you know, just lip service. You've got to talk to people. You've got to do this. Well, why don't you put your money where your mouth is?
to the federal government, to the opposition and start putting money where your mouth is by injecting funds into organisations like this that are actually making a difference. Gotcha for life. The founder is Gus Warland and I'm pleased to say he's on the line. Hello, Gussie. Yeah, g'day, Levi. Thank you, mate. I couldn't have said that better myself. Yeah, that's exactly what it's about. But when I talk to politicians, they tell me that
you know, prevention is very, very difficult to sort of gauge, which means it's not in the voting policy of two or three years of then getting in election again. So I need bipartisan, both parties to come together and say, right, the next 20 years, we're all going to fund this to these organisations and we're going to make a bloody difference because generationally, people do talk about it more than when I was growing up. But if we don't start putting money into prevention, we'll just have to keep putting more money into crisis and they need it
as well. So, yeah, I would love that support from TGB and obviously, you know, my radio station, we're trying to do our best too. Yeah, absolutely, Gus. And, you know, we'll support you and we've always been a big supporter and a big fan of your work, that's for sure. And you're right, it doesn't matter whether you vote Labor, Liberal, whether you vote the Nats, whether you vote the Greens.
Mental health is a real problem and it is claiming the lives of too many Australians on a daily, a minute basis. And some of the figures that you rattled off to me, Gus, the other day, I just couldn't believe it. Can you repeat some of those numbers? And I want to catch you off guard here, but just repeat some of those numbers to put it into perspective for people. Mate, I know the numbers in brain, in my, in my head, seven men a day, every day, two women every day, that's nine Aussies that
that woke up this morning won't wake up tomorrow morning. And then the same thing will happen on Sunday into Monday, Monday into Tuesday. And on top of that, when you're talking about the minutes, 65,000 Australians attempt to take their own life every single year. That's one every few minutes. So in the time I've sort of finished talking to you guys, and by the time I get to Allianz tonight, and by the time the game finishes tonight at sort of 10 o'clock,
we'll probably have 15, 20 people attempted a suicide in this country alone. So it's not good enough. And we can't just keep talking about the crisis. We need to prevent it from happening. And that's by building mental fitness. And this is what this match is about tonight. You must be blown away by the support you've been given by the rugby league community, in particular the Roosters and Manly, who have jumped on board for the Gotcha for Life Cup.
Oh, incredible. But every club, to be honest with you, Levi, they all got behind us. Friday before Magic Round, every single club tipped in money towards Gotcha for Life. And we're doing work at the moment with every single club. We want to make rugby league the gold standard for mental fitness. They're already the gold standard for physical fitness. But what's going on with the invisible muscles in our heads?
the ones that are even more powerful than our arms and our legs, the ones that make us make good and bad decisions. We don't work enough on those invisible muscles. We're not getting mentally fit enough. So, yeah, Peter Valhandy, every time I ask him, he goes, mate, let's do this. And every club got behind us. And so far we're working with the Sharkies, with South Sydney, the Roosters, the Panthers, Parramatta.
Other clubs are just waiting for timing in their schedules for us to do work with them. So, yeah, Rugby League has been absolutely brilliant. And tonight, you know, Shore and Partners, one of Manly's supporters, and Unibet have given us part of their jersey where there normally is. They've tipped in $100,000 in each. We get the jerseys auctioned off. So we could make $250,000 tonight, which would be absolutely sensational for a small little charity like ours.
Gassie, you know I love what you're doing, but what about for everyone heading to the footy tonight, a part of the Gotcha for Life Cup? I'm sad I can't be there, but at halftime there's a big touch footy match going on. Tell everyone about that and who's playing. I'm not sure if you're taking the piss, Lani, or not. No, I'm not. I wish I could play. Cooking number three. Well, there is a...
Charity game, in adverted commas. I've got a whole lot of boxers, lifesavers, old rugby league players and myself are playing in a charity touch footy match. Bill Harrigan's going to be refereeing. And I was just texting him saying, are we going to be able to kick? Because I really want to have that sort of Crossfield bomb for me to sort of leap up above and put one of those moves on. Gussie, I didn't know you were playing. Maybe I should have stepped in pregnant and all. Hang on, Gussie. Did you just say you're going to leap up and take a bomb? No.
I think he's going to kick. Have you just declared that? That's my thought, Gail, whether I can actually do it or not. That's great. Dream big. He gave me a pair of his boots. I've got the brand-new spanking blue, like light blue Nike boots. I'm all ready to go, and it's going to be a heap of fun. And tonight, you know, lots of chances to support Gottschalk at the game too. But as I spoke to Manly this week and the Roosters this week, huge game, you know, fourth versus fifth. And if the Roosters win, they get a little bit –
bit clear and if they lose they're back into that pack around 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th so yeah absolutely enormous but obviously I'm very excited that both clubs have for the third year running have really got behind the Gotcha for Life Cup. Fantastic well Gus you keep up the good work mate and we'll see you out there tonight or the listeners that are heading out to the footy we'll see you tonight and good luck with everything and you know you've got our support when it comes to Gotcha for Life.
I really appreciate that. I love that it's the Dave Morrow room in terms of the Olympics. Well done. I heard that when I was on the... I know how much he meant to all of you guys and to all the listeners that loved him. I only met him a few times, but what an absolute gentleman. And that's a lovely tribute you've done there for him. So well done on that. Good on you, mate. We'll catch up soon, Gussie.
Okay, guys. Bye. See you, legend. There he is, Gus Warland, of course, our mate. He works over at Triple M. But, of course, what he's doing at the moment with Gotcha for Life is just extraordinary. And let's hope those politicians are listening and they at least sit him down, listen to what he's got to say and start putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to funding mental health and these sorts of programs. 131873, the number.
0460 873 873. And I should mention, if you or someone you know is struggling and you need to speak to somebody, you can do it anonymously through Beyond Blue, Lifeline, 1311 14. Give them a ring and have a chat to them.
