The Naru Surf Gathering brings together Indigenous Australians to honor the memory of loved ones lost to suicide and build a stronger community through the healing power of the ocean.
First Nations people are taking their lives at double the rate of non- Indigenous Australia ns. With the power of the ocean, survivors and family members impacted by suicide are fighting to change that. For months, Amber had monitored the maps, observed the direction of the wind, and hoped for waves big enough for a surfing competition to honor her late father. Amber was standing at the same beach her father brought her to the day she was born.
With her younger brother, James, by her side, she remained cool and calm — just like the ocean was, as they called off the annual Naru Surf Gathering competition. The previous day, carloads of families had arrived at Saltwater National Park, south of Taree, filled to the brim with camping gear, surfboards, and smiling kids. The anticipation of winning the surfing title wasn't the only attraction; it was the warm feeling of mingling with mob from different parts of the country, too. Like Amber, many people here, including children, had been touched by it. This empowering grassroots event was about the strength of connection, because its origin started with a heartbreaking loss. WARNING: First Nations readers are advised that this article contains the name and image of someone who has died. All readers, please take care when reading; this story references suicide. Amber's bond with the ocean runs through her bloodline, but her love for surfing is a gift from her father, Eric Mercy. Eric was a Bundjalung man who grew up on Gumbaynggirr Country in Coffs Harbour. He didn't fit the mould of Australian surfing culture in the 80s and 90s, but this was his driving force in nurturing the next generation of surfers. He shared his passion with others, shaping surfboards out of a shed under his label 'Naru', which stems from the Gumbaynggirr word for water: 'Nalu'. From ocean awareness workshops to surfing camps, he was known for his 'big heart' and 'passion for the younger crew'. Eric captained one of Australia's first all-Aboriginal surfing teams, 'The Originals', which took him to the mecca of surfing — Hawaii — in 1995, where he represented Australia on a cultural tour. Eric returned home never the same, and two years later, he took his own life. 'The reality of never seeing my dad and never speaking to him again was foreign to me and that took a very long time to process,'' We went from having somewhat of a normal childhood to going to funeral after funeral,' Amber said. Out of the heartache, a special bond was born between Amber and James. 'Mum was processing her grief and going through the motions, so I appreciated having my brother there because he was someone to work through it and surf with,' she said. In 2017, on the 20th anniversary of Eric's passing, the siblings started Naru Surf Gathering to honor their father and tackle the taboo around mental health. 'There is stigma talking about when you're struggling or life's getting too hard, but having these conversations is important,' Amber said. 'If this had been here when Dad was around, maybe it would have helped keep him here for a bit longer.' Over the past 15 years, the suicide and self-harm rates of First Nations people have steadily increased. The latest statistics show this cohort are taking their lives at more than double the rate non-Indigenous Australians. Back on the camping grounds under the canopy of an old fig tree, Aunty Veronica Saunders sat down to reflect on her life. Smiling from ear to ear, her warmth radiates to everyone she meets. Aunty Veronica's work as a teacher, nurse, and advocate for children in the out-of-home care system demonstrates her deep love for her community. The 65-year-old grandmother attempted suicide twice. The strength that Aunty Veronica embodies today stems from overcoming battles — some as early as childhood. She still remembers the fear in her mum's voice when the 'welfare cars' visited Purfleet Mission. Hiding quietly under the stairs as they inspected the house, she was terrified of being taken, like those before her. 'Mum would tell us to hide or run down the bush, and she'd sing out and tell us when to come back. That was scary because my mum was part of the Stolen Generations,' she said. 'It's too hard to talk about but it was horrible some of the things we went through,' she reflected. 'I regularly see someone (a psychologist) because they're still taking away our kids, they're still treating us like second-class citizens, and sometimes that makes me feel like I'm a nobody. Family, country, and the support of a psychologist at her local Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) helped her heal. 'Even after what I've done, I realise I am a strong woman. I'm still here for my kids, my grandkids and my community and that's all that matters.' As children's laughter echoed in the background, she remembered life before technology and social media, where Country was the classroom, and Elders were the teachers. Naru Surf Gathering was a glimpse of the years Aunty Veronica reminisced about
Mental Health First Nations Suicide Mental Health Surfing Naru Surf Gathering Indigenous Australia Eric Mercy Amber Mercy Aunty Veronica Saunders
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