Monthly barbecue fosters bonds between blokes

THE creation of a support group helping to ensure men who need support don’t fall through the cracks has been a lifelong ambition for Geelong man Jamie Hobbs.

Launched a little over 12 months ago, The Wandering Man hosts monthly barbecue meet ups for blokes across the region, aiming to create a safe space for them to come together, talk and learn strategies to improve their mental health and resilience.

Each gathering is centred around a different theme – last month it was loneliness – and features guest speakers with lived experience or expertise on that topic, with previous guests including a former homicide squad detective and football players.

Hobbs, who is also a regular fixture at the Man Walk Geelong’s weekly gatherings and assists in the delivery of the Dads in Distress Geelong program, said blokes just want a safe place to share and even support other men.

“Our motto is ‘Talk to someone and I’ve got you’,” he said.

“We don’t leave anybody alone.

“[We’re] just trying to engage the blokes a little bit more, connect them up, link them up with each other, so that they’re not alone.”

He said while there are a lot of support services available to the Geelong community, many still struggle to find them, and the ability to connect with mental health professionals is sometimes impacted by long waitlists and challenges finding the “right fit”.

“This is what troubles me a little bit and I know men don’t like to reach out. That’s what we’re like, we don’t ask for help.

“But, I do really believe that that stigma is changing.

“There’s a lot of other [support] groups popping up at the moment. I think it’s awesome too and I think we all have to be connected as well.

He said it’s “not a one-size-fits-all” situation and the support groups across the region played an important role in both linking community members seeking assistance with groups best suited to them and referring them onto other professionals or services when appropriate.

The Wandering Man’s next barbecue will take place on August 25 between 2-5pm at the Barrabool Hills Centre in Highton, with Barney Nolan, a psychotherapist who specialises in anger management, slated to attend.

Hobbs encouraged all those interested to “take that action over anxiety” and come along.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re by yourself. As soon as you get there, we greet you straight away with some food.

“We’re all brothers, we’re all connected, everybody’s there for the reason you are.

“It’s not just coming because you may need someone to talk to, come and help someone else that needs someone to talk to.”

The Wandering Man is also currently working on expanding its offering to the community, with a mentorship program and ice bath and breath work sessions at Gorge Camorra’s recently opened Chill Breathe Revive studio on the horizon.

For more information about The Wandering Man’s monthly barbecues, or to learn more about volunteer opportunities with the support group, head to thewanderingman.com.au