Black Dog Ride Celebrates Their Reunion in Texas Queensland

Ten years ago, on the 13th of September 2015, Mental Health USA asked Black Dog Ride Australia if a group of our self-funded Riders could travel to USA to show them what we do and how we do it when we're riding within our communities to raise awareness of Depression and Suicide Prevention as they were losing 22 First Responders a day to Suicide.

Steve Andrews, who started Black Dog Ride in 2009 by riding on his own around Australia to start the conversation, put out the challenge to us all, asking, "Who's coming with me?" About 70 intrepid Black Dog Riders from all around Australia were quick to raise their hands. What a life changing experience it was. The Ride of a Lifetime!

We all arrived in New York to stay overnight close to JFK Airport.

The next morning, we were all extremely excited, whilst also filled with trepidation as we were about to be riding bikes we'd never ridden before, on the wrong side of the road, with road rules we hadn't yet experienced, along six and twelve lane freeways!

In the car park there were several rows of brand-new Harley Davidson bikes of our choice, with our names on the front waiting for us. Most only had 0.8 of a mile on the clock. We were all in awe.

Ours was a Harley Ultra Glide cruiser with an armchair as my seat. Happy Wife Happy Life!

Then 19 motorbike police arrived with two squad cars to give us a Presidential escort 27 miles into the city of New York. We were to stay in the centre lane behind the squad car so the motorbike police could race past us at over 100mph to close all the on-ramps ahead. We were the only ones on the whole freeway. They had closed the tunnel for us alone. They escorted us around New York past the Trade Centre memorial and up Broadway where there were two of the largest fire trucks in the world (with a driver front and back of these mammoth units). The Chief of New York Police along with the Australian Ambassador, Tim Minchin, met with us to brief us on what to expect along the way. They told us that in many cities we visited we'd be met by 12 motorbike police, 12 miles out. We'd be escorted to our fuel stop then onto our hotel. All, except for Amarillo, Texas, where we'd be met by 400 veterans who'd take care of us.

Exquisite countryside from New York to LA along the best of Route 66, through beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, Shenandoah River, along the Mississippi. Iconic towns like Oatman and Memphis. Grand Canyon and Monument Valley, engaging with communities and country folk all along the way.

Truly a mind-blowing experience.

Ten years later, on the 13th of September 2025, Steve Andrews again put out the call - who's joining me in Texas for our 10-year Reunion? Texas in Queensland, located on the river bordering NSW.

You can see how loved by the community this beautiful town of Texas is. So well presented. The people are so welcoming and friendly.

BD Riders were invited to the opening of the Art Gallery exhibition to celebrate 25 years, where we met Robyn and Terry of the Historical Society who invited us all to a special viewing of the Texas Heritage Centre and Tobacco Museum plus the Railway Museum. It was very refreshing to see the turnout of community connected Goondiwindi Councillors engaging warm heartedly with a room full of people who care so deeply for their town and those who live there.

Robyn and Terry are dedicated advocates for mental health within the community. They informed us that Texas has already had a community viewing of the 'Just A Farmer' movie, an enormously powerful conversation starter to get people talking to each other about mental health and asking how they're going. They also told us about the Texas and District Disaster Support (TADDS) group who held this event and also have a TADDS Hub where all members of the community are able to drop in to have a cuppa and a chat.

Since Black Dog Ride began in 2009, we have raised over $4,000,000 that we put back into our communities via our Grant Funding program. We support veterans in many ways, plus Men's Sheds and the Royal Flying Doctor. We send children on the Outward-Bound program and the Leeuwin. We've put little dogs into kindy to help the little ones relax on their first days and weeks. We train Mental Health First Aid and ASIST facilitators and put participants through the program so that they learn 'What to Say and What to Do' to get those people who are struggling, to the services they need. We also fund community viewings of the 'Just A Farmer' movie.

We will look at funding any community-based initiatives and projects that support community mental health and wellbeing.

We are what is known as a Bottom-Up organisation. Australia-wide we have over 8,500 riders, 6,000 volunteers, only three part-time paid staff and no premises to upkeep, so all that we raise pays our insurance and goes back into communities like Texas to support mental health programs and initiatives.

There's lots more information on our website www.blackdogride.org.au

There are also many interesting videos on YouTube.

Bev Seeney - Director - Black Dog Ride Australia