Mayor Kevin Mack and Hungry Jack’s will join forces with R U OK? to inspire meaningful conversations at a free community event at QEII Square on Tuesday, September 9 from 9.30am.

R U OK? is a not-for-profit suicide prevention organisation and is driving the length of Australia as part of its Conversation Bus Tour. The bus began in Darwin on August 7 and will finish in Sydney on R U OK?Day (September 11), and will be part of 18 community events in regional and metropolitan areas (NT, NSW, VIC, SA and ACT). 

Albury has been actively addressing suicide prevention in recent years, notably with The Border Mail's End Suicide Campaign in 2012.

The R U OK? Conversation Bus Tour is looking forward to stopping in Albury to meet the local community and inspire regular and meaningful conversations, before heading to Canberra and then Sydney on R U OK?Day.

R U OK? Campaign Director Rebecca Lewis said the Bus Tour is all about getting out to communities and inspiring people to ask someone “are you ok?” and listen either way.

"There’s a pressing need for Conversation Mates in regional Australia. Life can get really tough when a drought kicks in, the market takes a turn for the worst, or you simply find talking about personal, emotional stuff really hard.

"People living in these communities need to be there for each other and regularly ask the question “are you ok?”

“The goal this year is to sign up 23,000 Conversation Mates who'll commit to asking the question more regularly to family and friends,” Rebecca said.

Anyone can sign up at the event or online at ruokday.com, where the number of Conversation Mates will be tracked on an interactive map. By signing up, you’ll receive useful conversation tips and reminders throughout the year.

To follow the 12 000 km tour, visit ruokday.com