We’ve just run our first major campaign, Unplug24. Thanks for joining us to stay off social media for 24 hours on 24 October – to help save lives.
UNPLUGGERS
(that we know of!)
raised of $60,000 target
I’d like to VIEW the Unplug24 campaign.
I’d like to SIGN UP for the SmackTalk newsletter.
I’d like to DONATE to support SmackTalk.
UNPLUGGERS
(that we know of!)
raised of $60,000 target
I’d like to VIEW the Unplug24 campaign.
I’d like to SIGN UP for the SmackTalk newsletter.
I’d like to DONATE to support SmackTalk.
About SmackTalk
Behind the SmackTalk name
The name SmackTalk was designed to incorporate Mac’s name and his absolute love for basketball.
While smack talk is banter, sometimes referred to as trash talk, the use of the name for this charity is to help stamp out cyber bullying and sexual extortion.
Tuesday 24 October 2023 was the day our lives changed forever. Our 17-year-old beautiful boy Mac took his life at home.
Mac normally got up at 6.30am. At 7am, I knocked on his door and found him. He had taken his own life.
The grief, shock, helplessness and self-blame knocked me over physically and mentally.
I asked him regularly if he was ok, he always responded, “I am fine Dad”. He was not fine and if I had the knowledge and skills that I have now, to really listen, the outcome may have been different.
I have now used Mac’s death as a catalyst to do more and we want to educate every person we can reach to simply be a better listener. The research clearly confirms that real learned listening techniques make a world of difference.
The 40-minute SmackTalk session is free of charge. We will come to you, small groups, big groups, sporting clubs, school groups, business groups – we want to ensure we reduce the epidemic and silent killer that is suicide.
In 2023 alone, more than 3200 people took their own lives in Australia. Of those, 801 people died of suicide in Victoria compared to 299 road deaths in the same period in the State. We need to take urgent action to change these devastating numbers.
We miss our beautiful boy and together we will change hearts.
Wayne Holdsworth, Mac’s Dad
Book a SmackTalk today
Every small, medium or large organisation needs education on really listening.
In one free 40-minute session Wayne, or one of his trained facilitators, will give you the tools to really listen and perhaps change the course of a person’s life.
Learn how to be a better friend and family member by really listening.
The devastating sextortion of Mac
Sending nude photos is commonplace among young people today – but the consequences can be devastating. For Mac Holdsworth, it was an incident he never recovered from and just months later, aged 17, he took his own life.
The horror of finding Mac
On Tuesday 24 October 2023, Wayne Holdsworth underwent a trauma no parent should go through. He found his son Mac’s body, the morning after Mac took his own life.
Memories of Mac
MacKenzie Charlie Brennan Holdsworth, known as Mac, was a really fun-loving boy and a fiercely loyal family member who always loved being involved in any sport, particularly football and basketball.
Missing Mac's Mum
Exactly 100 days before Mac took his own life, he lost his Mum, Renee.
In his note to family, Mac outlined his guilt of not being able to spend more time with her before she passed away from a cardiac arrest, just six weeks after being diagnosed with MS.
Scott's sextortion safety tips
At the end of May, Barefoot Investor Scott Pape wrote a heart-wrenching post to his large database. Entitled ‘This is the hardest thing I’ve ever written’, it detailed an extremely moving conversation he had with Wayne about Mac taking his own life following an incident of sextortion.
Scott also included some advice for parents and people facing cyber issues. With his permission, we have included an excerpt from that email.
Wayne's wish
It deeply disturbs Wayne Holdsworth that there were more than 3200 people who took their own lives in Australia last year.
There were 801 suicides in Victoria alone in 2023 and the numbers in Victoria have already increased by 17% for the same period of time in 2024.
Why counselling is critical
It was just two days after Wayne Holdsworth found his son Mac dead in his bedroom that he had his first visit from Adrian Price from Support after Suicide.
Wayne has had sessions with Adrian nearly every week since the tragedy. That support has helped him have the strength and courage to be able to form SmackTalk.
The start of SmackTalk
Around three months after his son Mac took his own life, Wayne Holdsworth decided he had a responsibility to ensure other families didn’t go through the pain his family was suffering. It led to the creation of a registered charity, SmackTalk.
Weekly counselling support gave Wayne the strength to get through the funeral and then Christmas. Then he decided he wanted to leave Mac a legacy because at 17, he hadn’t really left one.
Unplug24 featured at Perth bus stops
Unplug24 has had a huge boost, with our campaign being spread across Perth bus stops, thanks to an amazing act of generosity by media company Ystop.
Please register here for Unplug24 to show your support.
Feedback from SmackTalk presentations
Wayne was fantastic and gave a presentation that resonated so powerfully throughout our group, not a dry eye in the room.”
Casey Women’s Football Club
Wayne’s story (is) so incredibly inspiring.”
SmackTalk presentation attendee
…this was the most impactful presentation I have ever seen. It’s raw, it’s honest, it’s factual and it provides kids and adults with real answers to deal with their own depression or suicidal thoughts and importantly, HOW to ask your mates how they are really going.
I HIGHLY recommend you all get on board and have Wayne come out and present this.”
Grant Harrison
CEO Knox Basketball
Brave, confronting and very important.”
SmackTalk presentation attendee
Wayne from SmackTalk was outstanding, compelling and we learned so much and now feel empowered to save lives.”
Mornington and Casey Basketball Clubs
Difficult subject matter but I applaud Wayne in sharing his story and bringing these issues to our attention.”
SmackTalk presentation attendee
Wayne’s presentation Smacktalk was as powerful as I have ever attended I now feel ready to help others, you are a legend Wayne and inspiration.”
Rockets Basketball Club
Wayne’s courage to bring to light and try and help stop this from happening to other families is amazing. Thank you Wayne for your bravery.”
SmackTalk presentation attendee
Thank you for coming out and providing such information that we now know will save lives. Outstanding individual.”
Cramli
The honesty and vulnerability from Wayne was amazing.”
SmackTalk presentation attendee
As a 21-year-old, I learnt a lot from this event and will forever remember what to look out for, who to call, and what to do. Wayne’s speech really impacted all of the club players and parents who were there tonight. We are beyond grateful for Wayne’s time, energy, kindness and knowledge. You (Wayne) are doing an amazing job at spreading awareness and normalising these conversations. I know for a fact that Wayne helped so many people in the crowd tonight and has without a doubt saved a life.
FTE Eagles Football Club event attendee
OMG such bravery from Wayne to be able to deliver that session. Such an emotional topic which I have been personally impacted by, but as emotional as the session was, I took so much out of it.”
SmackTalk presentation attendee
You’re an absolute inspiration and I will be forever grateful that you have allowed my family and wider community the chance to hear your tragic story, and given each and every one the opportunity to save lives.”
Secretary of the Bass FNC
As a parent myself I appreciate Wayne sharing his story to prevent others having to go through what he has. Thank you!”
SmackTalk presentation attendee
I have been receiving thoughtful feedback from those who attended last night, all of whom were genuinely moved by your presentation.
Many have told me that it started a conversation at home with their kids and family regarding the downfalls of social media and being able to talk to each other.
Genine Arvanitakis
Secretary of the Bentleigh JFC
Wayne was an incredible advocate, and I cannot find words in any language on this earth to commend him for his courage and strength. He spoke about an issue so incredibly important to all of us.”
SmackTalk presentation attendee
Some of the places our story has been shared
