Breakfast and a chat for local blokes

BROWN Hill Uniting Church is hosting a men’s breakfast later this month and the event includes a presentation by Ballarat Regional Trades and Labour Council secretary Brett Edgington.

Set for Saturday, 27 August, Mr Edgington said his talk will be about Ballarat’s role in the development of unionism.

“There’s a very critical role that Ballarat and central Victoria play in that with things like the eight-hour day, the secret ballot, those early initiatives that have since gone global,” he said.

“The first Australian-born union started here in Ballarat in Fern’s Hotel. Our earliest unions in Australia started amongst the miners.

“I think a lot of people, even those that have lived here their whole life, don’t realise how important that history is.”

Proceeds from the day will go towards Uniting Ballarat’s emergency relief program.

The men’s breakfasts happen at the church four times a year and are capped at 20 people with a cost of $5 per person for and porridge, cereal, bacon and eggs.

Event coordinator Louise Wright said the mornings aim to provide a get together and catch up for local blokes.

“It’s to build community engagement and providing a very accessible service for local Brown Hill men for them to come together and talk,” she said.

“Then we introduce someone to speak about an issue that may be relevant to them. We’ve had someone from the shower bus, the Men’s Shed, and Brendan Stevens from Brown Hill Progress Association.

“This just brings people together from all over the community, with the intention of reaching out to its more vulnerable members in particular.”