Meet a 'Logan Legend' – Justin Geange
Meet the 8 Logan Legends inspiring our city – and share the legend in your life with us.
(Trigger warning: this story discusses suicide.)
When Justin Geange moved from New Zealand to Logan in 1994, it wasn’t just a change of address, it was the beginning of a lifelong connection to a community that would shape his family, purpose and legacy.
‘We started renting here and loved it so much we bought our first house in Meadowbrook,’ he says.
‘Now we’re in Daisy Hill and I love what we have here. The people, the forest at our doorstep – it’s a pretty cool place to live.’
But behind the easy-going smile and warm humour is a man who has walked through darkness and emerged with a mission to help others find the light.
Justin Geange: Turning vulnerability into strength for others
‘I dedicate myself to helping people who are doing it tough,’ Justin says. ‘Mental health and suicide prevention, that’s where my heart is. It’s personal, I’ve lived it.’
Diagnosed with bipolar type 2 later in life, Justin has navigated the complexities of mental illness for years, both in New Zealand and in Logan.
‘I’ve been a visitor and an occupant of the Logan psych unit, but those experiences have shaped my purpose. But I’m still standing, baby, and that’s not sad, that is absolutely flippin’ awesome,’ Justin says.
Despite his upbeat attitude, Justin says he’s deeply mindful many others do not get a second chance and to those families, he sends his heartfelt thoughts and condolences.
Today, the father of 2 works as a field officer for MATES in Construction, a national organisation dedicated to suicide prevention in the building industry. His role is as practical as it is powerful and he visits construction sites, delivers training, and starts life-saving conversations.
ABOVE: Justin Geange taking his poetry to the stage at the APS24 national final.
PHOTO: Jacquie Manning, provided by Word Travels.
‘One of the ways we start the conversation is through “toolbox talks” where we remind people what we already do well in our industry, helping a mate out,’ Justin says.
‘If someone is struggling with a heavy load, we jump in. But what if that load is emotional? What if it’s mental? We teach people how to notice, how to ask, and how to connect their mates to help.’
Justin’s work is deeply personal, and every conversation he has and every site he visits is a chance to give hope to someone else who is struggling.
‘Yesterday a guy pulled me aside during a break. He was struggling with family stuff and using unhealthy coping strategies. We sat, we talked, and I reminded him he’s not alone. That’s what this is about, creating space for people to be vulnerable,’ he says.
Justin’s passion for connection doesn’t stop at the job site. He is also a poet, using slam and bush poetry to process his own experiences and reach others.
In 2025, Justin published a book of bush poetry titled Holding Hope for my MATES and donates 50 per cent of the profits to the MATES in Construction organisation.
‘Poetry’s been a godsend for my mental health. It gets the thoughts out of my head and onto the page. My poems are about grief, loss, mental health, but they always end in hope. Because I’m still here to deliver them,’ he says.
Accolades for his poetry have come thick and fast, and in 2025 Justin won the Logan heat of the Australian Poetry Slam for the third consecutive year. He’s also won best modern poem at the National Bush Poetry Championships and came third in the humorous original poem section.
Justin says his creative journey began unexpectedly after he responded to a poem shared on a podcast.
‘It felt good to get my thoughts out,’ he says. ‘Now I write a poem a week. Slam poetry when I’m cranky, bush poetry when I’m reflective. It’s cathartic.’
Putting a smile on people’s faces is one of Justin’s superpowers, and he used to be a mascot for the Brisbane Broncos; appearing on Australia’s Got Talent dressed as the beloved horse. While making people laugh makes Justin feel amazing, it is his family that he lives for.
‘My priority has always been whānau,’ Justin says, using the Māori word for ‘family’. ‘My beautiful wife, my two daughters – they’re my world. Stuff comes and goes, but family is forever.’
ABOVE: Justin Geange with his wife and two daughters.
‘One of my daughters is an artist and she’s had exhibitions at the Logan Art Gallery. The other’s still in school but already working locally. Logan’s given them space to grow,’ Justin says.
And it’s not just his immediate family that Justin cherishes, it’s the entire Logan community and the melting pot of cultures that call the fast-growing city in Australia home.
‘We’ve been through cyclones, through COVID, and I’ve never been prouder than seeing neighbours step up for each other. That’s what Logan does best – connection,’ Justin says.
‘There are over 230 cultures here living side by side. If you want authenticity, come to Logan. People here will give you the shirt off their back, that’s the kind of community we are.’
Whether he’s standing on a construction site, reciting a poem, or simply being a neighbour, Justin is living proof that even in the toughest times, there is always hope.
‘I hold that hope for others,’ he says. ‘Because someone once held it for me.’
Helpful resources:
- Lifeline 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
- Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
- Mates in Construction 1300 642 111
Justin Geange’s story shows how courage and community can change lives. Explore the full Logan Legends series – and if someone in your world embodies that same spirit, share their story with us. loganlegends.au