Login
Login

Merryn Padgett

Donate to Merryn and help create better mental health for all. 

Please help me reach my goal

Raised

$1,433

My Goal

$1,000

Select amount to donate

$40
$65
$105
$240
$520
$
Donate

Merryn Padgett

I’m walking in solidarity this October for Australians affected by mental illness and suicide. You are not alone.

Total Raised

$1,433

Total Distance

85km

Distance Goal

150km

Support My Walk for Mental Health Research

Did you know that 1 in 5 Australians experience symptoms of mental illness each year?

Mental illness can be debilitating and can have a devastating impact on not only those living with it, but those around them. 

This October, I’m taking part in One Foot Forward to help reduce the impact of mental illness and suicide.

I'm walking to raise funds for Black Dog Institute to put ground-breaking new mental health treatment, education, and digital services into the hands of the people who need them most.

It would mean so much to me if you donated to support my walk.

Together, we can create better mental health for all Australians.

My Updates

Raymond Island Community Garden

Perfection 🤩

Raymond Island Community Garden

‘Look at the apple blossom!’ Aunty Barb proclaimed with delight, as she showed me around the garden 😍

Raymond Island Community Garden

Chloe the Scarecrow will get a frock for the upcoming 10th birthday celebration of the Garden 🤩

Raymond Island Community Garden

The pergola of bike wheels 😍

❤️👣❤️ Who would’ve thought?

❤️👣❤️ Who would’ve thought? Goals can have an equal and opposite reaction, in hindsight. 

Edward de Bono once said, ‘Everything is perfectly logical in hindsight.’

When I spontaneously signed up for One Foot Forward 2025, inspired by a RANZCP colleague leading our workplace team, I thought the fundraising would be the hardest element of the campaign. 

But it wasn’t. I smashed the goal of $1,000 in six days. Without feeling like friends and family were harassed for donations 😬

I get inspired when committing to things. Excited. Major bursts of energy wash over. Then, the crash happens. And it’s challenging! 

At day three, the goal of walking 150km in October felt all-consuming. My sleep patterns were all over the place, and having been unwell just before starting my new job, the cardio and lung capacity wasn’t what I was used to. 

Pushing through a little, and also giving my body gentle rest as needed, I found momentum at the 69km mark. 

After today, I’ll be past the half-way mark. Once that milestone is passed, goals feel achievable. 

The same rings true in life. 

Breaking a big goal into bite sized chunks makes it more digestible. I thank a former CEO for the elephant analogy, which has guided my career: ‘How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.’ 

Onwards and upwards. One step at a time. One foot forward. In solidarity for mental health ❤️👣❤️

Oh, what a beautiful morning

Super quick burn around the block

Nourishing bowl food!

Mamma duck’s safe passage

It was wild weather on the Lakes today. But seeing Mamma Duck guide her baby safely across the car park was worthwhile!

Gratitude for nature

Slow walk

Day four: #onefootforward - clocked 8.69km today through a slow walk on #Gragin #RaymondIsland with my girl - witnessing nature on the #koalatrail

S(h)elf-care Saturday

Creating a firm foundation

Brené Brown’s new book arrived today. Can’t wait to start reading.

Four seasons in one day

Managed 5.73km amidst changeable weather!

The view from here…

Looks like magnolias outside the hospital in the morning light

Will it rain?

Busy buzzy bees amongst wisteria

🐝

Two little ducks…

Ducklings, protected by Mamma and Pappa duck 🦆

Perfection

Slow Saturday wander through the Paynesville Farmers’ Market; snapping up some Forge Creek Lamb for the weekend, and taking in a tortoise pace 🐢

Super fast burn around the block

Cute little kookaburra on today’s walk with a dear friend, who I met 7 years ago through walking ❤️👣❤️

Merch arrived!

Officiated via a t-shirt ❤️👣❤️

Moody skies, hit $$$ goal!

Let’s celebrate! In six days, friends and family helped me hit the fundraising goal of $1,000! Thank you to all that donated ❤️👣❤️

Waiting for a break in the weather

The days of pushing myself to walk in strong gales, or driving rain, are of the past. Plus, the privileged schnauzers, Lola and Louis, would rather chill. So, we’re waiting for a break in the weather today! ☔️ Are you an all-weather walker?

Lola and Louis: walking buddies

Lola always leads the walk. Louis is my shadow.

Borun the Pelican and Tuk the Musk Duck: The Dreamtime Ancestors of the Gunaikurnai

Image: captured 22/9/2025 along Dinni Birraark / Sunset Cove walk The First Aboriginal Man and Women A long time ago the first people were animals and the first Gunaikurnai Man was Borun (a Pelican). Borun came a long, long way from the hills, looking for a place to live, carrying a bark canoe on his head. He's walking, walking and he hears tapping! Looks here, looks there, nothing! Where's the tap, tap coming from? He comes to a river puts down the canoe and what's inside? Tuk (a Musk duck). Borun sees Tuk, likes Tuk and they start the Gunaikurnai people. As told by: Robert Andy – Tatungooloong Gunaikurnai https://www.batalukculturaltrail.com.au/stories/borun_tuk.php

A little more about my journey

Understanding the mental health challenges that can arise when living in a regional and rural place, ‘One Foot Forward’ speaks to the heart. 

Born on the west coast of Australia, then spending adolescence in northern Victoria and southern New South Wales, I experienced the bright lights of the city when moving to Melbourne for university. 

Holidaying in East Gippsland, Victoria, for a large part of my life, a sea-change called me here permanently. 

With lived experience as a consumer, and later as a carer, I’m instinctively drawn 
to behavioural sciences. As a rural engagement specialist, I bring a breadth of experience to my community. 

Passionate about nature, art, health and cooking; when I’m not at work, I can be found walking the many tracks and trails around Paynesville; journalling and gardening; meditating or at a yin yoga class; and cooking up a storm for family/whānau. 

I can give you hot tips on the places to explore from Melbourne to Mallacoota, and 
beyond!

Thank you for your support!

Thanks to those who’ve generously donated to the event. I feel reaching the fundraising goal is possible, after 48 hours of campaigning!

My Achievements

Thank you to my Sponsors

$112.64

Nick Matolytsch

$106.85

Madeleine Easton

You are my hero. You always will be Love you sister

$106.73

John Padgett

Keep up the great work and you are always focused on your projects and this is something that most people experience at some time in their life.

$106.73

Michael Kwan

What a fantastic cause!

$70.56

Carly

Nice one Mez! Such a great cause. xxx

$70.41

Unky Mal

Well done, Mez 😇🙏 Great cause, among many great causes, but it takes strength of one's convictions to actually get out there and physically do something to make change 🙏❤️

$54.95

Barb Olsen

Good on you Mez.

$54.95

Rache James

Great work Mez!

$54.62

Julie Gibson

Thank you for doing this. Happy walking!

$54.12

Fel

Smash out of the sky, Mez. Pound those paths with a confident swagger.

$54.12

Karly Mccaskill

$54.12

Zane Andrews

Go Merryn!! Smash it

$54.12

Julie Padgett

You're inspiring, Mez

$50

Nancy B

$50

Terry

Go Mez, you are doing a truly wonderful thing supporting MH! Well done 👍

$44.32

Merlin Sykes

Well done Merryn

$44.32

Good Gnocchi

$44.32

Jeremy Schroder

$43.60

Janet Gill Kirkman

$42.64

Debbie Carruthers

Well done for doing this Merryn

$40

Ann Warnock

All the best to you Merryn Love Ann xxx

$33.78

Davini Malcolm

Hi Merryn, Well done you xo

$25

Meena Todd

Wow Merryn, what an incredible effort 💜 Walking 150km is such a huge commitment, and for such an important cause. Mental health is something so close to my heart, and seeing you raise awareness and support in this way means so much. Thank you for making a difference 💙💛🩷

$22.58

Kerri Meadows

Way to go🥳💕

$20

Cherie Whitty

Good on you Merryn! Right behind you!!

$12.06

Anonymous

$5.07

Asha

to get u to $300

Thank you to my supporters

$106.73

Michael Kwan

What a fantastic cause!

$70.56

Carly

Nice one Mez! Such a great cause. xxx

$70.41

Unky Mal

Well done, Mez 😇🙏 Great cause, among many great causes, but it takes strength of one's convictions to actually get out there and physically do something to make change 🙏❤️

$54.95

Barb Olsen

Good on you Mez.

$54.95

Rache James

Great work Mez!

$54.62

Julie Gibson

Thank you for doing this. Happy walking!

$54.12

Fel

Smash out of the sky, Mez. Pound those paths with a confident swagger.

$54.12

Karly Mccaskill

$54.12

Zane Andrews

Go Merryn!! Smash it

$54.12

Julie Padgett

You're inspiring, Mez

$50

Nancy B

$50

Terry

Go Mez, you are doing a truly wonderful thing supporting MH! Well done 👍

$44.32

Merlin Sykes

Well done Merryn

$44.32

Good Gnocchi

$44.32

Jeremy Schroder

$43.60

Janet Gill Kirkman

$42.64

Debbie Carruthers

Well done for doing this Merryn

$40

Ann Warnock

All the best to you Merryn Love Ann xxx

$33.78

Davini Malcolm

Hi Merryn, Well done you xo

$25

Meena Todd

Wow Merryn, what an incredible effort 💜 Walking 150km is such a huge commitment, and for such an important cause. Mental health is something so close to my heart, and seeing you raise awareness and support in this way means so much. Thank you for making a difference 💙💛🩷

$22.58

Kerri Meadows

Way to go🥳💕

$20

Cherie Whitty

Good on you Merryn! Right behind you!!

$12.06

Anonymous

$5.07

Asha

to get u to $300