Angling for better mental health:The Bayer Big Fish Challenge

Written By Olivia Thorn

When the pressures of life and business get too much, sometimes you just need to get away.

A humble - but mighty! - fishing competition is giving farmers the perfect excuse to get out onto the water and open up deeper conversations, one bite at a time.

A nationwide fishing competition is harnessing the power of the outdoors to equip farmers with tools to improve their emotional wellbeing.

The Bayer Big Fish Challenge has two parts: the year-round fishing competition where teams across Australia catch fish and log them in different divisions using a points system based on size. Anglers photograph the length of their catch on a ‘brag mat’ and upload images into an app.

Throughout the competition Bayer donates $1 dollar per centimetre of the largest fish of the 32 target species caught by each team, to fund the second part of the program: Bayer Retreats, run by The Fly Program men’s mental health charity. 

These retreats allow rural Aussies doing it tough to enjoy an all-expenses paid four-day fishing trip to the NSW Snowy Mountains, where they practice mental resilience, while also fly fishing and reflecting in nature.

Founder of The Fly Project, Matt Tripet, says the retreats are an ideal ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ environment for farmers to invest in their emotional wellbeing.

“Positive social environments are so important; it formulates trust and trust is so important,” he says.

“It’s a place where men can be action-orientated, it creates a place where we feel better in communicating and talking.”

Mixed farmer Brad Stillard from Barooga, NSW has been part of the “Cobram Cod Catches” Bayer Big Fish Challenge team for several years, even winning a few gongs, such as  ‘biggest Australian bass’.

“I get a lot of joy out of the outdoors, especially the sound of running water,” he says.

He thinks the Bayer Big Fish Challenge is an ideal vehicle to reach out to mates having a hard time and facilitating deeper conversations.

“I rang a mate recently and just said, “mate, I’m sick of being farmer at the moment, how about we go out west and chase some cod somewhere?” he says.

Brad felt humbled to be invited to The Fly Program when some mates identified he needed support and ‘dobbed’ him in for a retreat, an opportunity he says he’d otherwise not be able to afford.

“Nothing in this world is worth the loss of your life. We love farming because farming is challenging, but the downsides are drought and things that are out of your control.

“Because you’re working hard at trying to create something and it starts to break down and fail, it’s hard to let that go.

“You can let that go, give yourself some space and give yourself a break.”

Bayer Crop Science has raised more than $250,000 to The Fly Program since 2018, allowing more than 70 rural Australians in need of reprieve and time to focus on their mental wellbeing.

“It’s a massive effort from the Bayer team, the difference they are making in our community is bloody fantastic. Bayer have put their money where their mouth is and made this program happen and that’s very commendable,” Brad says.

Hear Oli’s chat with Brad and Matt below.

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Olivia Thorn
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