Daniel’s personal journey, marked by his own struggles with mental ill-health, led to the creation of the Fight Is Real initiative—an endeavour committed to dismantling the stigma surrounding mental health and fostering difficult yet crucial conversations.
His journey began in late May last year when he embarked on a two-month-long fundraising campaign through a series of barbecue events in Corowa’s main street.
What started as a modest effort to raise funds for the Black Dog Institute and promote mental health awareness soon transformed into a community-driven movement. More than 20 barbecue events outside key local spots, including Woolworths Corowa, Waldron’s IGA, and the Corowa Hotel, saw Daniel selling delicious food, raffle tickets, and merchandise—all with the mission of supporting mental health initiatives.
The overwhelming support from the Corowa community shattered initial expectations. The campaign, which had set a modest goal of $2,000, concluded with a remarkable $11,000 donation to the Black Dog Institute.
Following the success of the barbecue events, Daniel expanded his efforts by selling merchandise, gaining visibility and a celebrity endorsement from the Wolfe Brothers in December.
This momentum led him to envision an even grander platform for his cause—a concert.
Club Corowa shared a similar vision and reached out to Daniel. Though the initial plan involved the Wolfe Brothers, fate intervened, and Birds of Tokyo was secured as the headline act for the March 8 concert- with a portion of funds raised from the concert being dedicated to the Black Dog Institute, continuing the crucial work of mental health research, diagnosis, and treatment.
“The Wolfe Brothers’ endorsement was a turning point for the Fight Is Real,” Daniel said.
“Their support helped spread our message, and it got me thinking about hosting a concert. My face lit up when Carly (Peters) from Club Corowa told me that Birds of Tokyo would be headlining.”
Emotions ran high for Daniel as he expressed profound gratitude for the overwhelming support received from Club Corowa.
Reflecting on the journey of the Fight Is Real initiative and the upcoming Birds of Tokyo concert, Daniel shared that he couldn’t believe how much his campaign had grown in less than a year.
“It’s been insane,” he told the Free Press. “I have no words; it’s just been an incredible journey.
“The commitment from Peter (Norris) and Carly has been nothing short of remarkable. The fact that they jumped on board and agreed to this without hesitation is mind-blowing.
“This initiative started as a personal battle. Little did I know it would grow into something so much bigger.
“I’ve had people, come up to me in the street, at work or at the barbecues and thank me for what I’m doing and having the courage to speak up.
“They’ve told me it’s great to see a young person so passionate about making a difference and that it’s given them the courage to seek help….that’s been so overwhelming. That’s why I am doing this. Even if it just makes a difference in one person’s life- it’s all worth it.”
