At Armidale, university students from Robb College have taken up the clobber and cudgels and this year they've been at it again.

For the fourth year, the college has produced its annual nude calendar and this year nominated Lifeline and its suicide prevention program as the recipient.

Last year it was drought.

The college says suicide is a massive issue in rural areas. It is like everywhere, something that doesn't get talked about often enough.

And obviously there is a personal and individual connection throughout Robb of rural families grief-struck by suicide that resonates even more with the student body.

Finding enough bare bodies to do their bits for the calendar was never hard. Many were turned down.

For those who want to search the scenes for interesting instruments there is a wake up call too.

Somewhere in some of those images is an old telephone the black talking tool their grandparents would have used.

It is a powerful prop demonstrating that talking about problems and the black dog of suicide and the depression that often heralds it is in today's world with Lifeline, a phone call away.

Nudie-rudies of young university students might be par for the course for those who often look on from outside, but the intent in all that escapism is deadly serious and so commendable.

All physical power to them all.

There's nothing like a young body to show oldies that irreverence is in fact not just in the mind and body but also in the soul.