This weekend men, women and boys from the Dubbo and wider community will come together across various events to raise awareness of men’s mental health.
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This Sunday is the Lifeline Central West ‘Boys Day Out’ race meeting, which will take place at the Dubbo Turf Club on Sunday, May 6.
Coinciding with the race meet is a ‘Get-Together’ morning tea on Monday, May 7, at the Dubbo track.
Hosted by Racing Mates, the morning tea aims to empower mates to look out for mates.
Also on the Monday morning is HALT’s Save Your Bacon brekkie at Astley’s Plumbing and Hardware.
The aim of that event is to encourage Dubbo’s tradies to attend the Boys Day Out race meeting and breakfast barbecue that will focus on their mental health and wellbeing.
The co-founder of HALT (Hope Assistance Local Tradies) Jeremy Forbes will be in town to talk to tradespeople about where they can turn if they are going through a rough patch.
Central west Lifeline executive director Alex Ferguson said men and boys are overly represented in mental health, self harm and domestic violence issues.
“As a community we need to shine a light on a very serious problem of male culture and we need to be changing it,” he said.
As well as Lifeline, the race meeting is being supported by the Black Dog Ride, the Blue Elephant program for Rugby Union, Group 11 Rugby league and Racing Mates.
“The reason for Boys Day out with other the associations and Clubs coming together is that we all recognise that we have this huge problem in society…,” Mr Ferguson said.
“This event is about having a good time but the underlying message is that we need to improve our game.”
Mr Ferguson said men and women can all come together this Sunday for a great afternoon out at the races.
“I would love to see a conversation started between males and females about these issues,” he said.
“Because it’s the partner that is across the mood changes, bad practices.. so it’s about encouraging a conversation in whichever way people want to have it.
Basically we’re trying to change an attitude, where people who might need help feel empowered to come out and seek the help they need.
- Alex Ferguson, Lifeline Central West
“It’s no good offering help if people don’t want to take the offer up.”
Mr Ferguson said men’s mental health and other related issues were a societal problem and we all needed to encourage them to talk.
“Basically we’re trying to change an attitude, where people who might need help feel empowered to come out and seek the help they need,” he said.
The Racing Mates morning tea will be held from 10am. Anyone seeking information can contact Pat Webster on 0418 644 955 or visit www.racingmates.com.au
The HALT breakfast is free to all who attend and has been supported by a number of local businesses and organisations including all four Rotary Clubs in Dubbo.
Mother Clucker Eggs, Baker’s Delight and the Rotary Club of Dubbo South have donated to the HALT breakfast.
Taylor Jurd
Hi, my name is Taylor Jurd. I am a journalist with Australian Community Media, I write for the Western Magazine and Wellington Times.
Hi, my name is Taylor Jurd. I am a journalist with Australian Community Media, I write for the Western Magazine and Wellington Times.
