Warrnambool | A City for Living

Nathan McKane named 2025 Citizen of the Year

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For his tireless work in raising awareness and encouraging life-changing conversations about mental health, Nathan McKane has been named the 2025 Warrnambool Citizen of the Year.

In July 2023 he took part in “Ks for R U OK?” which challenges participants to choose a distance that they aim to complete over the course of the month.

“I did that out of curiosity and I didn’t really fully grasp it. About a week into it, I saw that it was really gaining some traction with friends behind the scenes,” he said.

Despite challenging conditions, including walking in -4°C hail, Nathan’s dedication to the R U OK? cause didn’t stop at the end of the challenge, and his ongoing efforts were recognised by R U OK?, who appointed him as an ambassador in 2024.

“R U OK? do their regional roadshows and they said, ‘we’ve got to come to Warrnambool’,” he said.

“The joy was, it wasn’t packed with my mates, it was packed with people I didn’t know and I think that was the really pleasing part of the message that you’re trying to spread and get out there in the community.

“We got the feedback it was the most heart-warming one they’ve ever done.”

Nathan’s passion for the R U OK? message stems from personal experience.

“Unfortunately I’ve lost a mate. 20 years, you never know when those ripples will present,” he said.

“The reality is, it was suicide and it’s a very hard word to use.

“If what I’m doing impacts one person who picks up a phone, that’s fantastic.”

As well as spreading the message to people he doesn’t know, his greater awareness of mental health has made him a beacon for people in his various friendship circles.

“When you walk along the promenade with the shirt on and somebody might read that logo and think ‘I’m going to check-in myself, or I’m going to go home and ring a mate,’ that’s the depth of it to me,” he said.

“A lot of my mates, you catch up and it’s ‘how are you going?’ and it’s not ‘yeah good’, it’s actually a lot deeper these days.

“I can be quite vulnerable and I think that can resonate with people.”

Looking ahead, Nathan is hopeful about the future of mental health awareness. 

"Through the ’90s, there was none of this around, and now schools are implementing this stuff,” he said.

“I don’t know where things will be in 20 years, but I think that’s the exciting part.”

Nathan was characteristically humble when speaking of the award.

“I’m just an average bloke having a crack,” he said.

“There are so many people involved and you get to stand up there and represent those people which is cool.

“When this award is announced and becomes public, again, how many thousands of people will see that message of R U OK? and that’s what resonates most with the award.”

Warrnambool Mayor Ben Blain said that there was no telling how many people Nathan has helped with his positive messages.

“Every conversation could save a life,” he said.

“What might seem like something small to you could make a world of difference to someone who is having a tough time.

“Whether he’s walking down the promenade with an R U OK? t-shirt or discussing mental health with hundreds of high school students as a guest speaker, Nathan has made it his mission to do everything he can to spread a positive message and support anyone who needs an ear to listen.”

Nathan will receive his award at a ceremony on Thursday January 23 at 6pm.

The event will be held at The STAGE, Emmanuel College, Ardlie St, with all welcome to attend.

Other award winners include Young Citizen of the Year Sharna Rogers, Local Achiever Mike Toone and the Warrnambool Community Garden’s Open Day which is the Community Event of the Year.

The event will also include an Australian Citizenship ceremony, with 49 people to take the Pledge and officially become Australian Citizens.

Find out more about R U OK? at www.ruok.org.au

Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 for 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Text support is also available at 0477 13 11 14.

Call Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 for 24/7 advice, referral and support from a trained mental health professional.