The walk, which is held on the second Sunday in September, was founded after Jacky Gilbee’s son took his own life.
Almost a decade later, Ms Gilbee says keeping his memory alive is still just as important.
“People think that if you bring up their name or bring up that loss, that you’re going to burst out crying or get upset,” she said.
“It’s the complete opposite. We get excited because we get to speak their name. We talk about them as if they’re right there.
“I probably talk about Russell nearly every day, and if I don’t think or talk about him, I get upset — not the other way around.”
Each year, the event, which involves a walk from Yea Train Station along the Rail Trail to the Two Bridges, invites people to enjoy a morning of connection and honouring those they have lost.
It also sets out to raise awareness about and reduce the stigma of suicide by encouraging open conversation between attendees.
The event has also always included a guest speaker, which this year will be Blue Tree Project founder and chief executive Kendall Whyte.
Ms Whyte lost her brother, Jayden, to suicide in 2018 and began painting blue trees as a visual reminder to speak up and spark important conversations around suicide and mental health.
Now, there are more than 1600 blue trees across Australia, including one in Yea, which can be viewed during the walk.
Ms Gilbee, who helped to organise the blue tree in Yea, said the project was very meaningful to her.
“The blue tree talks to people — hundreds and maybe even thousands of people a day who go past it in their car,” she said.
“Meeting Kendall will be great, but it’s also just like meeting all the other great people on the day, because we’ve all got a story.”
Ms Gilbee said she hoped the walk would make people realise that they could have an impact.
“A lot of people feel like they’re not enough or like things are too much, but they’re not,” she said.
“It just takes one person to get something happening, and my thing, of course, is the walk each year.
“It helps me, this walk. I think Russell would be proud that I have made his loss a positive thing.”
The walk will kick off with registrations at the Yea Train Station at 8.30am on Sunday, September 13.
Opening remarks from Warren Davies, who is known as the Unbreakable Farmer, will begin at 9am, followed by speeches from Ms Gilbee and Ms Whyte.
The walk will formally begin at 9.30am and will conclude with a sausage sizzle at about 11am.
For more information, visit gvsag.org.au
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