Bronte at the Sydney Surf Pro in May. Photo: Cait Miers//World Surf League
“I lost my brother by suicide in 2021 and since then I’ve struggled with my mental health.”
And with that brave statement, pro surfer Bronte Macaulay has talked, for the first time, about the effects of her brother Jack’s suicide on her life. Jack was one of former world number three surfer Dave Macaulay’s, and his wife Lorraine’s, four children. Jack was a talented surfer in his own right, well known in their local Margaret River region and was considered a standout performer in the solid waves of WA’s northwest. His death caused ripples throughout the close-knit Margaret River community. After his death, Dave simply posted “Our hearts have been obliterated as our beautiful boy is gone.”
Jack’s suicide came in the middle of the week when Bronte was competing in the Margaret River Pro Championship Tour event. Remarkably, she competed in the semifinals of the event just a few days after his death. While her bravery and stoicism were applauded at the time, the aftermath was traumatic. Bronte had never suffered any mental health or depression in her life, but eight months after Jack’s death she was failing to deal with the aftermath.
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“I felt numb for a long period and wasn’t enjoying any of the activities I used to enjoy and felt like a zombie going through the motions,” she told Talk_20, a charity based in Western Australia that aims to help young adults take ownership of their mental health journey.
Bronte continued to compete throughout her struggles. She won the Ballito Pro in 2023 but missed out by just a few heats in both 2022 and 2023 from qualifying for the CT via the Challenger Series. However, she hadn’t dealt with the repercussions of Jack’s death. By her admission, she was closed off and attempted to deal with the issues on her own.
Eventually, Bronte booked a consultation with a doctor to get a mental health plan and a referral to a psychologist, who diagnosed her with depression. But such was her reluctance to talk about how she felt, she didn’t tell her family, friends or boyfriend that she had even sought help.
“The amount of courage it must have taken to speak about her story is incredible,” said Talk_20 founder Lockie O’Donoghue. “Stepping into that interview would have been scarier than stepping into the biggest wave of her life.”
Macaulay described her first sessions with the psychologist like getting blood out from a stone. Initially, she started just writing down the feelings that she couldn’t verbalize and progressed from there.
“I couldn’t express myself and I figured there are a lot of people with these dark thoughts and depression who haven’t found the courage to talk about it,” she said. She also said that not only did she discover the tools to help with her mental health, but understood how education can support friends and family who are going through the same issues. “I learned that it was okay to ask people big questions, like how are you feeling, do you have a mental health plan or are you suicidal?” she said.
In Australia, Jack’s death was one of 3,144 suicides registered in 2021, and it was the most common cause of death for young people aged 15-24 years. By speaking out bravely and telling her story, Bronte is aiming to raise not just awareness, but funding and resources for young people dealing with mental health issues.
“I’d like people to try and find the courage to speak up. As soon as you do that you will know that you are not alone, that it’s not unusual, and that with help and support, there is hope.”
