International Men's Day event guide
From Palmerston in the Northern Territory to Melbourne’s Lakeside Drive, Karratha in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, and NSW’s spectacular northern coastal town, Newcastle, the men’s health sector is gearing up for a bumper International Men’s Day on 19 November.
The Brighton Rotary Club in Melbourne is hosting an inaugural ‘Happy as Larry’ luncheon to “promote, inform and educate attendees on men’s health and happiness,” with proceeds from the $95-a-head lunch distributed to several bodies including Brighton Bayside Men’s Shed and youth suicide awareness. Speakers include Jeremy Forbes, the passionate and provocative leader of HALT (Hope Assistance Local Tradies) and entertaining Paralympian Don Elgin.
Man Cave Support Group NSW is holding a Gelato Appreciation Day at Giotto Gelato on 17 November from 8am-1pm, including a knowledge quiz and exploration of both the meaning of IMD for the attendees and what they would want to see shift or change for this international day.
That should take some lickin’! No doubt a Mr Perfect free BBQ will attract a strong gathering at the impressive new real365 Centre, a gym and mental health service at Foundry Street. Experienced facilitator Greg Milan will run this free social from 1-3pm.
Palmerston, situated near Darwin Harbour, is going big with an all-in celebration at the Recreation Centre. The event runs from 3-5pm and will include a range of free activities, including a 3-on-3 basketball competition for guys, a Barbering Station promoting self-care, and learn-to-play Didgeridoo sessions for males.
Mentoring Men and Gotcha4Life are hosting a Men’s Walk and Talk around scenic Narrabeen Lagoon in Sydney’s North starting at 6pm and finishing two hours later. “We wanted to create an opportunity for men to walk and talk in a safe, supported environment and also create an awareness of the Mentoring Men program where a trained male mentor provides free one-on-one life mentoring to another man,” said organiser Ian Westmoreland.
For something a little longer and chunkier, the Manifest Sydney Men’s Health Symposium starts on November 15 through to November 18 at the Sydney Town Hall. This gathering will bring together some of the brightest minds across industries to tackle the world's most critical challenges as it pertains to the mental and emotional wellbeing of men. Expect lively debates, much networking and showcasing of the latest innovations and solutions that support men in healing their pasts and creating their future.
Further south in Hobart, Men’s Resources Tasmania will host a Men’s BBQ at the Hobart City Mission - FIND OUT MORE - while author Hanuman Das has chosen the day to launch his new book, ‘Peaceman: Beyond Masculinity, Divinity’ at the Living Peace Yoga centre in Toronto, NSW.
The ‘Shed Stories’ booklet will also be launched at Men’s Shed Emerton, along with a series of Men’s Health Videos that focus on a situational approach to suicide prevention.
Further afield, Liam Sorrell from the Australian Dads Network is planning an event in Karratha, 1525 kilometres north of Perth and 240 kilometres south of Port Hedland. Still in the making, this event will feature a men’s talk, guest speakers and screening of the poignant 2018 documentary by Genevieve Bailey, Happy Sad Man, “a charming and uplifting insight into the lives of five very different Australian men.”
TAKE ACTION FOR MEN’S HEALTH
If you are planning an event on or before International Men’s Day (or even after), let us know and we will promote it on our IMD calendar.
If you looking for ideas, check out our IMD 'Know Your Man Facts' presentation and request the talk with speaker notes and an interactive quiz for participants from [email protected] or download our IMD posters and social media graphics to share across your networks.
Let’s get Australian talking about men!