Cowboys Legend Jake Granville Joins Wisely Group To Champion Mental Health On R U Ok? Day

Last Thursday, former North Queensland Cowboys premiership winner Jake Granville sat down with staff at Wisely Group in Mackay to deliver a message that reached far beyond the footy field: the power of conversation, and the importance of “being a breather.”

The session, held on national R U OK? Day, was livestreamed to Wisely’s regional sites across the Bowen Basin. It was part of the company’s ongoing commitment to breaking down stigma and encouraging everyday conversations about mental health—particularly in industries where the pressure is unrelenting.

“It was a chance to sit with the guys, have a yarn, and talk about what it means to be a ‘breather,’” Granville said.

“At this stage of my career, it’s good to be part of something like this.”

For Granville, the concept of a “breather” is simple but profound.

“To me, being a breather is just about being a good person, showing gratitude, helping those around you, staying optimistic, and trying to brighten someone else’s day,” he explained.

“If I’m having a rough day, helping someone else out makes me feel better, and I think it works both ways. If you buy into other people’s lives, you make them feel better too.”

Granville also spoke candidly about the challenges of mental health in professional sport and the lessons that can translate into everyday workplaces.

“In the old days, you probably didn’t talk about those things much. But now, you’ve got to have the tough conversations,” he said.

“You don’t always know what someone is going through or what sort of day they’re having, so the more you talk with people and try to brighten their day, the better.”

For Wisely Group CEO Dan Wisely, hosting Granville was about reinforcing the message that mental health conversations matter every day, not just once a year.

“It’s great to have Jake Granville here with us. He’s talking to some of our staff in the office, and we’re also live streaming it out to a lot of our sites in the Bowen Basin. He’s here to speak about R U OK? Day, mental health, and what we need to do in that space to keep improving and getting better at dealing with those issues,” Mr Wisely said.

“It’s really important to talk about these things. It’s a serious issue for everyone, and particularly in our industry. As a business, we lost a colleague to mental health a few years ago, so it’s a really important topic for us. Having Jake here means a lot.

“We do something like this every year, and it’s a good reminder that it’s not just about one day… it’s every day.”

Mr Wisely said small conversations can make a world of difference.

“Sometimes it’s as simple as asking, ‘What did you have for tea last night?’ to get a conversation going,” he said.

“That small chat can lead to something bigger, and you might find out something they’ve been struggling to bring up. That little conversation could change an outcome.”

Granville agreed.

“If you’re struggling, try to have those conversations. And if you’re not struggling, start them anyway,” he urged. “A friendly chat can make a bigger difference than you realise.”

At Wisely’s Mackay headquarters, a memorial bench stands quietly out front as a tribute to a colleague the company lost to suicide. It has become a place for staff to sit, reflect, or make a phone call. For Wisely, it symbolises the heart of the R U OK? Day message that even one small gesture can change, or even save, a life.

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North Queensland Cowboys premiership winner and mental health advocate Jake Granville

Wisely Group CEO Dan Wisely.

Cowboys legend Jake Granville joined Wisely Group last Thursday to champion daily mental health conversations and the power of “being a breather.” Photo credit: Hannah McNamara

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