Key Facts:
Mark Gresser is trekking 6000kms across Australia to raise funds for youth mental health. He'll receive a special welcome when he crosses the line at Byron Bay.
When Perth man Mark Gresser reaches Byron Bay tomorrow (May 30) after his 10-month, 6000-kilometre walk across Australia to raise awareness of youth mental health, there will be one person in the welcoming party who is more excited than most to congratulate him.
Brooke Hyland was Mr Gresser's art teacher in high school at La Salle College Perth 23 years ago, and her memories of her former pupil - who has pulled his cart through challenging heat and weather to reach his final destination of Byron - paint a picture of an intelligent young man with the drive to become a powerful social issues advocate.
"He was a really talented artist, and an all-rounder who was great at sport, easy to get along with and very self-driven," recalls Ms Hyland, now a guest services officer at Reflections Holidays, which is supporting Mr Gresser with "rest and recovery" accommodation at its Brunswick Head and Byron Bay parks.
"Mark always liked to go the extra mile: I remember for one of his art projects he decided to create a sculpture out of butter, so I linked him to a food artist at Burwood Casino and in the school holidays, when most kids are relaxing, he went to the Casino and worked with the artist to create a sculpture of his arm, with his pet budgie sitting on his hand.
"He went on to win some prizes with it – there was no other kid who said he wanted to do a butter sculpture! – and definitely had that characteristic of trying things that were not run-of-the mill."
Ms Hyland has followed Mr Gressler, a zoologist who has previously ridden a bicycle almost 30,000kms across 28 countries, and instinctively emailed him when she heard of his latest challenge, walking 6000Kms from Perth to Byron Bay to raise $100,000 for charity batyr.
"I reached out to him when I found out he was doing this journey from Australia's most western point to the most eastern point, just to say 'Hey, if you need a hot meal or a bed, whatever, just let me know' and he replied saying, 'That would be great, I don't know a soul in Byron Bay.'"
Now looking forward to welcoming Mr Gresser to stay at Reflections Brunswick Heads, Ms Hyland said she admired Mr Gresser for the work he was doing to remove the stigma around mental illness in youth.
"I didn't realise back then that he was facing challenges, and I think it's driven him to do what he is doing, which is so important for today's youth," she said.
Mr Gresser said he became interested in advocating for positive mental health following his own experiences with mental ill health.
"Over the last five years I have learned a lot about stress and anxiety management by seeing a psychologist and I wish I learned a lot of what I know now at an earlier age," he said.
"This is why I partnered with batyr, which is a prevention-focused charity that opens safe spaces for Australia's youth to have supportive conversations about mental health."
Patrick Darcy, chief executive of batyr, said what Mark had achieved was "extraordinary".
"Walking across Australia for ten months is a huge physical undertaking, but what's even more powerful is the message he's carrying with him - that young people deserve to feel supported, heard and able to seek help when they need it. Community fundraisers like Mark play a crucial role in helping batyr deliver mental health education that empowers young people to speak openly about what they're going through and reach out for support. We're incredibly grateful for Mark's commitment to youth mental health and the thousands of people who have supported his journey. His efforts will have a real and lasting impact."
Mark is scheduled to arrive after 11am in Byron Bay.
