Men’s group celebrates five years of support and friendship

The Man Walk Geelong celebrated its fifth birthday last week, bringing together group members, their families and supporters for its weekly walk to mark the occasion.

The Geelong walk is just one of more than 70 similar walks operating across the country, aimed at providing men an opportunity to get together, talk and support each other.

Motivated by their own lived experience of mental health and eager to do something to support others, the Geelong walk was founded by Chris Lytas and Luke Outerbridge after they were introduced by a mutual friend.

The group now averages between 20 and 25 participants each week, numbers which have doubled in the past 12 months, with some men choosing to turn up every week, others coming along when they are in need of some additional support and new members continuing to join on a regular basis.

It also receives referrals from Barwon Health, along with local occupational therapists, psychologists and councillors, recommending clients with social anxiety for the group.

For those who participate in Geelong’s iteration of the Man Walk, the group provides friendship, community, a helping hand through challenging times and for some, a vital social outing once a week.

“It’s very humbling, that’s for sure,” Mr Lytas said.

“If you told us five years ago, we’d still be going, we probably would have laughed at you because we had no idea what we were doing when we began.

“We probably still don’t, but that’s part of the beauty of it. We just adapt and evolve, and we listen to the community in terms of what they want.”

Both founders work full-time and the effort they put into the Man Walk, and the not-for-profit Right Mate, which they created after the success of the walk, happens in their spare time.

“Your 9 to 5 pays your bills. This pays your soul,” Mr Lytas said.

He said anyone can participate in the walk, making it an ideal outlet for those seeking a sense of belonging and the support of likeminded men, with the group even altering its weekly route to accommodate for a regular participant who uses an electric wheelchair.

“It’s a safe, inclusive space. There’s no judgement. No one cares who you are, what you do, what your sexuality is.” Interested in joining? “Just rock up,” Mr Lytas said.

The group meet every Saturday morning at 8am without fail, regardless of the weather, meeting in Geelong at Orchid Co Coffee on Garden Street. “If it’s absolutely bucketing with rain, we just go sit in the back room in the café and the guys have a sit in and a coffee and a chat, instead of a walk and a coffee and a chat,” Mr Lytas said.

For more information, head to rightmate.org.au