By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
THE youngest man to run the Simpson Desert was deservedly named Latrobe City Citizen of the Year.
Blake Bourne has done so much, in such a short amount of time, for the many out there who feel like all hope is lost.
The 26-year-old was acknowledged for his outstanding mental health advocacy as the Citizen of the Year at the 2026 Latrobe City Australia Day Awards.
In receiving the honour, Mr Bourne wished to push the attention away from himself and toward what has, and is still needed, to be done.
“I think it was more just grateful that the work that we’re going is starting to get recognised,” he told the Express.
“It’s not so much about me, but a reflection of the impact that we’ve been able to make.
“Yes, a lot of what has happened over the last couple of years has started from me, but we wouldn’t have been able to make anywhere near the change or the impact we have if others didn’t get involved and hep support me along the way.”
After a severe battle with depression in 2021, Mr Bourne set out an audacious goal for himself three years ago – to become the fastest to trek the Simpson Desert.
After a few set-backs, in his second attempt, he completed the feat, and while not breaking the record set by ultra-marathon runner and former politician Pat Farmer, the Traralgon local still became the youngest to cross the 380-kilometre behemoth of a mission.
Mr Bourne done so in three days, 17 hours, and 40 minutes.
Looking back nearly six month later, he described the accomplishment as “a huge weight off my shoulders.”
“Now that I’ve done it and ticked it off and did what I said I was going to do, now I’ve set that bar and that’s the standard moving forward,” he said.
Over the course of 2025, and in the lead-up to his historic run, Mr Bourne raised more than $40,000 for mental health charity Speak and Share, while also hosting community events such as Sip and Dip and The Uncomfortable Challenge.
His contributions to Speak and Share pushed funding for more mental supports and workshops, catering some 1500 students to open dialogue around wellbeing and self-care.
The Uncomfortable Challenge initiative was also a huge success, attracting more than 100 people to take part during the month of July, accepting and overcoming their personal vulnerabilities.
Mr Bourne completed some strange and demanding objectives, such as walking for 24 hours straight and recently finishing a marathon in crocs.
Pushing to expand The Uncomfortable Challenge across the country, Mr Bourne’s new goal is to see at least a thousand participants this year.
All of these things have made him a true trendsetter in this mental health space.
“There’s definitely been people that have reached out to me and said that I’ve inspired them, so in that respect, I guess (I’m an influence),” Mr Bourne said.
“But, I think I more so see myself as a beacon of hope for those that are struggling can look and see if this average bloke from Traralgon can overcome these things then they probably can too.”
Mr Bourne has more ventures on the horizon, with his next announcement set to be equally as impressive.
