Big Mob Show Up for First Men’s Gathering – “Everyone In That Room Was a Leader.”

By Troy Brown

You may have heard about the Men’s Gathering at GEGAC on Tuesday night last week.

Talking with Scott King, who is our Quaranook Community Engagement Worker, he said it went “deadly.”

“The purpose of this night was to get together and create opportunities, have yarns and just to be there for each other,” he said.

These Men’s Gatherings are going to continue, and will be governed by what the group wants.

The next Men’s Gathering will be on Tuesday, December 17.

At this first gathering last week we heard a range of suggestions for all kind of activities that the men are keen to pursue.

Here’s a few of the ideas and comments that came up:

• Coming together for camps
• Utilising Kurnai Park
• GEGAC and GLAWAC working together more
• Support to deal with grief and mental health
• Young people to be more involved and in leadership positions
• More on-country meetings
• Using land for business e.g. hunting and gathering
• Support to learn about culture and having cultural camps
• Opportunities to do cultural artwork such as painting and woodwork
• Support with employment and training programs

We are working through this long list to see what we can do in the short term, and what might take longer to explore.

We know men in community have wanted something like this for a while.

“We haven’t done something like this in two decades,” Scotty acknowledged. “I am proud of the amount of effort everyone has put in.”

There were about 35 men there on the night, with ages ranging from 16 -70.

“Everyone in that room was a leader,” Scott said. “Even if they didn’t talk much, they still had that presence about them.”

To see how many people took it seriously showed the importance of what these gatherings do.

It’s truly the little things that we should celebrate from that night.

Such as, giving wisdom to the younger generations, spreading kindness, and showing what it would look like to live in a community full of unity and togetherness.

Scotty was immensely impressed that most of the men that showed up got themselves there.

“That shows a willingness and a drive to want to be a part of something, something that’s been missing for a long time,” he said.

Scotty says this has been in his heart for a long time.

He has a passion for men’s mental health and wellbeing.

“It’s like a calling,” he says.

The next Men’s Gathering will be on Tuesday, December 17.

So, make sure to put it in your calendar – we hope to see more men there.

And don’t be afraid to bring a mate or a family member.

If you have an idea of anything that might improve what we are trying to build, make sure to come along and give us as much of your knowledge as possible, because in the end this is your gathering.