International Men's Day: Bringing blokes together

Published 5:03am 18 November 2024

Words by Kylie Knight

In the lead-up to International Men's Day, we are shining a light on the men in our community making a difference.

Redcliffe’s The Man Walk Group is a way for men to walk, talk and support each other - reducing isolation and improving mental and physical wellbeing.

The group, which started more than five years ago, is now the biggest in the world with almost 60 regular walkers on a Saturday morning and big numbers at its two weekday walks.

Spokesman Denis Brennan says while members have supported each other informally since the beginning, three are now better equipped to help those struggling with their mental health.

They recently completed a Mental Fitness for Leaders course.

“They (The Man Walk co-ordinators) were trying to get every Manbassador in Australia to do it but then I thought, we’ve got such a big group it would be lovely to have a couple of blokes (trained). I asked Simon Pitcher and Brian Jones and they both did the course. I thought I’d better do it myself,” Denis explains.

Simon says it was ‘basically First Aid for mental health’.

“Recognising when somebody’s struggling and having that first conversation with them to let them know that they’ve got an ear to listen and hopefully guide them to seek professional help if required,” he explains.

“Everybody struggles at different times and with different challenges in their lives and sometimes for men being able to talk to other men... particularly when you’re walking along you find it easier to talk rather than sitting looking at one another.

“For guys, it’s easier to be doing something and they can feel that someone is listening to them, they’re sharing their understanding, and it gets a weight off their chest. It helps.”

Walks are held three days per week – Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 6.30am. They usually cover about 6km, but participants can walk distances they feel they can manage. The morning always finishes with coffee at the Jetty Lounge, a chat and a few laughs.

It’s about much more than walking, with mateship and looking out for each other at its core.

“We do get quite a few people who move here from interstate and there’s loneliness, people who leave their job, leave their sporting bodies and they sit at home isolated,” Denis says.

“I’ve had blokes come to me and thank me for The Man Walk because it has saved them,” Denis says.

Redcliffe’s is the biggest The Man Walk group in the world. There are others in Canada, England and Japan as well as 80 across Australia, where the concept originated.

To find out more, search The Man Walk Redcliffe on Facebook.