Great Mate plans to get bigger and better

The Great Mate Check-In’s flagship wellness event lived-up its billing and will be back “bigger and better next year”, say organisers.

Around 100 people attended TGMC’s Night Time Panel at Club Pine Rivers on Friday June 5 to support men's mental health.

Mental health advocates, experts and champions with lived experience created an “electric energy”, said Stacey MacMillan-White, co-founder with Courtney Senior.

Speakers included Ryan Elson, founder of The Tribe Social Belonging, Peter Turner, Executive Principal of Bray Park State High School and Bodie Morris, 17, on tackling the stigma around men’s health.

“The discussion moved beyond traditional mental health talk, focusing on the practical commitment to connection,” Stacey said.

“This included a strong emphasis on the power of simple outreach, such as digital messages and checking in via text, as valid and vital ways to maintain social bonds in a busy world.

“One key take away was from Bodie saying through high school he had learned how to find the perimeter of a triangle, but didn’t know how to regulate his emotions.

“We will be doing the same again next year, bringing more stories to share.”

The event raised $4200 for Men's Information and Support Association which equates to 70 counselling sessions and $2000 for TGMC’s grants. The four-year total is now $17,400.

TGMC’s first micro-grant round will open on July 1 for those in Moreton Bay and Brisbane to create their own “casual, in-person connection projects”.

Grants are $500 per quarter initially, but TGMC hopes to increase to $1000 next year with the support of the community. For details visit here.

TGMC’s next event is a trivia night at Hip Hops Brewers, Brendale on Friday October 2 - which ties to the message of checking in with mates on the first Friday each month.

October is also mental health awareness month. Tickets will be released soon.

TGMC thanks Gold Sponsor Petrie Real Estate, Bronze Sponsors Accomplish Education and Work Mats Peer Support, Media Partners Moreton Daily and Rhea Abraham, founder of Dark Horse International, Scented By Harry for a lucky door prize, KwikCopy Eagle Farm for all printing and trainees from Youth Development Foundation.

Stacey, who runs a business How to Help, started TGMC after seeing a wave of events for International Women’s Day but none for men.

“So, I set out to build and host an event for International Men’s Day in November 2023. Honestly, I was shocked by its success,” she says on the website.

“I’d never organised an event of this scale, let alone a fundraiser, and especially not for a subject – men’s mental health – that often struggles to get attention it needs and deserves.”