General News
12 October, 2026
Thorpe to headline mental health fundraiser
FIVE-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe will return to Cairns this month to support people living with severe mental illness, as a $50,000 philanthropic gift provides a major boost to The Junction Clubhouse and its inaugural fundraising campaign.
When Mr Thorpe was recently in Cairns for announcements surrounding the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, few locals knew the Australian sporting great had already committed to returning to the city for another cause close to his heart – mental health.
Thorpe will headline the inaugural Junction Connection Lunch at Hilton Cairns on Friday 16 October, helping raise awareness of mental illness, challenge stigma and generate vital funds for the ongoing work of The Junction Clubhouse.
The connection was made by The Junction Board member and former Federal Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, who has a longstanding friendship with Mr Thorpe and personally approached him about supporting the cause. Mr Thorpe said yes immediately.
For Mr Entsch, who has a long history of advocating for improved mental health services in Far North Queensland, Mr Thorpe’s involvement was a natural fit.
“I’ve known Ian for many years and I know how genuine his commitment is to mental health, so when the opportunity arose, I simply asked him if he would come to Cairns and support The Junction. He said ‘yes’ straight away. We worked the event date around his schedule,” Mr Entsch said.
“Ian understands that mental illness doesn’t discriminate. His willingness to speak openly about his own experiences has helped break down stigma, and that makes him an incredibly appropriate person to lead this conversation.
“What The Junction provides is something very special. It gives people a place to belong, people who understand them and a pathway back into community life. That is why I am so passionate about supporting its work.”
The Junction CEO Dr Suzie Pont said having a trusted community to turn to could make an enormous difference during the transition back into everyday life.
“For people living with severe mental illness, leaving hospital is not necessarily the end of the crisis. It can be the beginning of an incredibly difficult transition back into everyday life,” Dr Pont said.
Mr Thorpe’s support comes as prominent local philanthropist Anne Mills, through The Anne Mills Foundation, has donated $50,000 to The Junction.
