Tim Dormer says his Graceland trip with Ben Zabel is still going ahead
- CHRISTINE SAMS
- The Daily Telegraph
- December 08, 2014 11:37AM
Tim Dormer at The Australian Geographic Society 2014 Gala Awards held at the Ivy Ballroom in George St. Picture: Christian Gilles
Tim Dormer has opened up about Ben Zabel’s battle with depression, revealing they are still planning a trip to Graceland together despite Zabel’s overdose last month.
“The tickets were booked this week,” Dormer told Confidential. “I said to him ‘mate, we don’t have to do this trip to Graceland, only if you want to’ and he said ‘no, it’s what I need, to get out there’.”
The pair, who were Big Brother housemates last year, have maintained a close friendship since being on the Channel 9 series. Dormer said he was very distressed by news of Zabel being treated by paramedics at his Brisbane home last month, then hospitalised after an overdose.
“It was serious and really scary,’ Dormer said. “The good thing that’s come out of it all now is he’s getting the help that he needs, it’s kind of like he was suffering alone. I think with a lot of people with depression and anxiety ... there are people out there that will help, you’ve just to be brave to ask for it.”
Dormer joked that he keeps pestering his friend over the phone, whether he likes it or not.
“I think it’s about having people around you as well, friends who just ask “how are you going?” I call him every day or two — he hates it,” Dormer said.
Ben Zabel at his live eviction.
The pair had been planning trip to Graceland together, for a documentary. Zabel revealed on Big Brother that he had always dreamt of visiting Elvis Presley’s home and Dormer promised he would use some of his prizemoney — $250,000 — to fund the trip.
Now it is still going ahead, Dormer said he hopes it will make a bit of a difference to Zabel (combined, of course with the treatment he is receiving from medical professionals).
“The whole story behind it is me wanting to take my good mate, sort of get him out of the apartment that he’s made his little cave and go on an adventure,” Dormer said.
Zabel has returned to performing for his current stand-up tour and Dormer said “he’s really well”.
The pair will head to the US on January 5.
For help with depression, contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 or at www.beyondblue.org.au
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