Dressed in yellow and driving a yellow car with R U OK? signage, Hennie Kliengeld stood out.
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The Flinders man was taking part in Shellharbour City Council's annual suicide prevention walk on Thursday, to honour his late son Andre.
The September 10 event was held to mark R U OK? Day and World Suicide Prevention Day.
Mr Kleingeld lost his 26-year-old son to suicide on July 11, 2019.
"Last year I was a mess ... I'm still a mess," he said.
"But, I just feel like I have to do something because of all this stuff that is happening in Kiama and Gerringong, with all these people committing suicide.
"It is enough, I have to do something," Mr Kleingeld told the Mercury.
"I have to get out of my comfort zone, my pain that I've got and use my son's story to help others struggling with depression."
Mr Kleingeld, his wife and daughter knew Andre struggled with depression but the tight-knit family were devastated when he took his own life.
Their pain was compounded when they learnt Andre had tried twice before to take his own life.
"The day that he passed away the hospital told us that that was his third attempt to take his life and this third time he succeeded," Mr Kleingeld said.
"I could have helped my son but that was kept from me and my family. We were devastated."
The Kleingeld family only arrived in Australia from their native South Africa in 2007, but Andre was extremely popular, with more than 300 people showing up to his funeral.
"He would do anything for his friends. One day he dropped everything to drive his mate all the way to Brisbane. He left home at 11pm on a Friday night and returned home on Sunday. He had such a good heart," Mr Kleingeld said.
Another of Andre's friends, Eddie, sold Andre the bright yellow Audi S3 coupe.
A few months later Eddie took his own life.
"Two people have owned this car and they have both died from suicide," Mr Kleingeld said.
"We own the car now. My wife and daughter cherish this car and don't want anything to happen to it. At first they didn't want me to put any logos on it. But they support what I'm trying to do now."
In truth, Mr Kleingeld started raising funds for suicide prevention while his son was still alive.
"Six weeks before Andre died we rode our jet ski from Lake Illawarra to Cronulla and back to raise funds for the Black Dog Institute. I'll never forget that day," he said.
If you need support call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
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