Life-saving support arrives in Cobram

By Owen Sinclair

May 19, 2025

Led by president Steve ‘Neffy’ Neff (right) and communications manager Josh Revens, the group is expanding to further its mission. Photo by Owen Sinclair

It’s one of the hardest subjects for anyone to discuss: suicide.

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The statistics themselves tell a troubling story. Since the beginning of this year, the latest figures show, 209 Victorians — 146 of whom were men — have lost their lives to suicide.

Now offering its services to Cobram after recently expanding, the Shepparton-based We Listen Suicide Loss Support Group is driving to get that number down to zero.

At the beginning of each month, the group will be running free support meetings.

Everyone is welcome.

The best part about the sessions, other than that they’re free to attend?

“There’s no registration, no sign-in, any of that. There’s no record of peoples’ names,” WLSLSG president Steven ‘Neffy’ Neff said.

And it’s intentional: the group creates a space for people to learn how to cope with losing a loved one, something which, Mr Neff said, could be achieved only with a foundation of trust and confidentiality.

“We don’t go into the history of the death or whatever happened. We talk about grief, loss, coping,” Mr Neff said.

“We focus on what’s going on for people now.

“It’s about empowering people.”

Steven 'Neffy' Neff says the sessions are based on trust and confidentiality. Photo by Owen Sinclair

The discussions include how to build strategies to cope with losing a loved one to suicide.

It’s a personal mission for Mr Neff, who knows first-hand the grief of losing a family member by suicide.

He founded the group in 2018 after joining Lifeline as a volunteer — another organisation to which he devotes part of his time today.

Mr Neff knows it isn’t easy for people to open up to strangers, but said there was power in the confidentiality the group afforded.

“I think it’s hard because of the taboo, or stigma, around suicide,” he said.

“I say to people, ‘There’s no statute of limitations on grief. You can grieve for the rest of your life. It’s about how you deal with things.’”

Alongside Cobram and Shepparton, the group has also expanded to Echuca and Benalla.

But while it is hoping to grow across Australia, the group, like most not-for-profits, relies on government grants and donations from the community to get by.

As such, it welcomes any support the community can give.

For instance, it was thanks to grants such as that from Tobin Brothers Funerals that the group was able to take its mission further.

Cobram Community House manager Christine Osborne said the house was pleased to be able to provide a space for the group where members of the community could be supported in their healing journey.

“The work that Steve and his group do is really important,” she said.

“Just having a space where people feel heard and supported can make a huge difference — sometimes even save a life.”