In recent years in my sport ministry role I've known of, heard about or told of quite a number of elite athletes in various sports who have taken their own lives or attempted to take their own life.
Obviously at this end of the spectrum, high profile athletes are as much in danger of such an absolutist attitude than any other sector of our community, except for those on the land whose figures are significantly higher. Little wonder that the Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter who is constantly airing these rural statistics gets such a good hearing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Katter
The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has been aware of such issues and when I presented a case for a respite facility in 1992 and provided for their athletes and coaches 'Basil Sellers House' in Moruya on the NSW south coast, the offer was taken up.
Respite is more than just timeout from the sport. It is a change of scenery. It is a sense of mind, heart and soul of being somewhere else. It is a different feel.
Moruya is a two hour drive from the AIS in Canberra on the south coast and the 14 years my wife Delma and I served as the 'Master' – (technical term for chaplain, dogs body, cleaner, co-ordinator) we enjoyed hosting to the respite facility innumerable athletes and coaches. We would get an hour with the athletes in an atmosphere of quiet while the birdsong of the Bellbird rang out on the 10 acre allotment of Ironbark trees.
When we relocated to Tweed Heads in December 2005 we established 'Basil Sellers Tweed' at the Surfing Australian High Performance Centre, a facility sponsored by the Australia Sports Commission in league with the Domain Resort which provides beach side accommodation for sports teams.
The six SE Qld AIS Sport Units have this facility available to them and in addition we've hosted AIS Canberra athletes and coaches as well.
Then in June 2011 we opened Basil Sellers Laguna Quays Respite (Whitsundays) which is available to both AIS athletes along with Missionaries and Church Professional Personnel (such as pastors) who wish a place of respite to rejuvenate and become refreshed.
The concrete edifices of modern sport is a place of energy and purpose and everyone, particularly those who require timeout, need a place they can feel secure, safe and experience of sense that they are being looked after themselves, and not just because they can run fast, swim quickly, throw a ball better, kick a ball further or whatever sporting endeavour they are engaged.
Well-Being Australia provides these places of Respite and it is a joy to our heart. AIS Barry Barnes recently wrote saying how grateful they are of the years and good-will of our ministry of respite.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at
http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html