On November 1st, when players across ACT Premier Cricket take the field for the Speak & Share for Mental Health Round, Tuggeranong’s Harry Thomas won’t just be thinking about wickets and runs. He will be thinking about his best mate, his little brother.
He’ll be playing for 22 – the number inked on his wrist – his brother’s race car number. The same number he now carries with him every time he walks onto the cricket field.
Earlier this month, Harry made his ACT Comets debut at the WACA – a moment of pride, achievement, and deep emotion. Because for Harry, cricket isn’t just a game anymore. It’s a promise fulfilled.
“It was something my little brother and I always spoke about,” Harry said.
“He always pushed me hard to chase this. When we lost him at the start of the year, I knew I had to give my everything to cricket, for him. That moment, getting the call to debut, there were definitely some tears. I knew he was up there watching.”
In January 2025, Harry’s younger brother lost his life to suicide.
Since then, cricket for Harry has become a lifeline, a mission, and a connection to the brother he lost. And now, as Cricket ACT hosts its first Mental Health Round in partnership with Speak & Share, Harry’s story is at the heart of why this round exists.
“Mental Health Round touches pretty close to home, I lost my little brother. Something like this, in sporting clubs and sporting organisations, is really important. It creates conversations that could save someone’s life. It’s such a credit to Cricket ACT for putting together this round to create those conversations” Harry told Cricket ACT.
Every day, nine Australians die by suicide. Behind that number are families, teammates, and friends left carrying the weight of unanswered questions and unimaginable grief.
For Harry, that grief became a reason to act.
Shortly after his brother’s passing, he connected with Speak & Share, a mental health organisation focused on changing the conversation in sporting clubs, not just through awareness, but through education.
“I reached out about a month after it happened,” Harry recalled.
“I wanted to do something in his memory, to build on his legacy,”
“Speak & Share get into sporting clubs and educate what mental health really looks like. They give people the tools to have those conversations. At my club at Tuggeranong, we’re really open and we talk about these things. It’s brought us closer as a group. I think other clubs can do that too,” Harry added.
Now, Harry is raising funds through the sports he loves: $1 for every run, $5 for every wicket, with additional physical challenges on the horizon, all to further spread awareness, mental resilience and emotional strength.
“It’s that one-foot-in-front-of-the-other mentality. It’s how I’ve managed to keep going.”
Harry’s story is one of resilience; after moving from Tasmania in search of greater cricketing opportunities, Harry found a home at Tuggeranong Valley Cricket Club and within the ACT Comets system.
“I probably was behind a few very decent quicks down in Tassie,” he says.
“I made the move last year and trained hard with the Comets boys. Even when I went home in January, I stayed in contact with Jono (Dean) and told him I wanted to come back up and give it everything.”
Loss and determination ran side by side, resulting in one of the proudest and emotional moments of his life: a call-up to represent the ACT Comets.
“It was overwhelming, to be fair. I’ve put a lot of work in, and to have that rewarded — to know I’ve done what I told my brother I would — it’s a pretty special feeling,” Harry stated.
This year’s Speak & Share for Mental Health Round isn’t just a symbol. It’s a stand. Across every Premier Cricket match on November 1st, clubs will unite to shine a light on mental health.
“That’s what this round is about. Just checking in. Being a mate. It’s something we can all be part of,” said Harry.
Adding to that message, Speak & Share shared their gratitude and excitement for the partnership:
“We firstly would like to say a huge thank you to Harry, not only for his connection and support of Speak & Share, but the vulnerability he has shown to ensure our community is stronger for it. It is people like Harry that inspire others to maybe start that conversation or reach out to a mate, because you never know the power that can have,”
“For us at Speak & Share we are proud to partner with Cricket ACT on this terrific initiative that is the Mental Health Round. Mental health doesn’t discriminate and now is the perfect time to check in on those around us. We look forward to working with those across the league and good luck to all,”
“A problem shared, is a problem halved”
Harry’s personal fundraising campaign is running all season, with all proceeds going to Speak & Share, helping the organisation continue their life-saving work in community and sporting environments.
Harry Thomas is playing this season with a number on his wrist and a memory in his heart. Every run, every wicket, every training session – it’s all for his brother. And for anyone else who might be struggling silently.
Speak & Share for Mental Health Round on November 1 is a reminder. You are not alone. Your mental health matters.
If we speak, if we share, if we listen – we might just save a life.
You can donate to Harry’s campaign via:
Also support Speak & Share by checking out their website via:
If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available 24/7:
📞 Lifeline – 13 11 14
📞 Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636
📞 MensLine Australia – 1300 78 99 78
📞 Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800