Surf Coast group helps men to survive and thrive

TORQUAY’S Michael Judd made a promise to his then eight-year-old daughter that he would channel the lessons he learnt during their challenging time to create a positive impact within the community.

Before Mr Judd’s daughter, Stella, lost her life to brain cancer in May 2020, aged eight years old, ‘Juddy’ initially resisted outside help but friends, family and the wider community rallied behind the family regardless providing them with meals and cleaning the family home while they were in hospital.

Now he’s on a mission to pay it forward.

“I promised her I would do something great to help people…I didn’t take action for a long time, then I told my CEO and he said why haven’t you started and that was the final push I needed,” he said.

Through the process of sharing his story with others Juddy learnt that others opened up about their own life stories and found that in that space healing can start to occur. Five months ago, he and group men held their first Doing Imperfect Inner Growth in Groups (DIIGG).

“The vision is for men to survive and thrive. The mission is to bring guys together in a safe place and tell stories, take action, so blokes can transform and create a better story,” he said.

“We’ve learnt is that everyone has a story, everyone has a need to be seen, heard and understood.”

Though his own journey, Juddy acknowledges that men are often reluctant to open up about how they are feeling or what’s troubling them, “but as Mike Tyson said, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face”.

“Mental health has a bit of a stigma about it, but wellbeing ties into mental, spiritual, financial and physical health.”

The DIIGG members largely communicate via a WhatsApp group with 49 people and growing, there they share podcast tips, books and events and upcoming monthly meeting dates.

When the group next meets at 4 Pines they’ll be treated to free ultra low alcohol beer, soft drinks and finger food before a visit to the National Surfing Museum to hear guest speakers talk about their involvement in 50 Year Storm.

“We’re not a church, AA or a fight club…we’ve got tradies, people from the media, real estate agents, safety managers,” Juddy said.

Supporters of the group include; 4 Pines, Town & Country Pizza and Pasta from Torquay North, Swell Cafe, Surf Coast Wellness Rooms, Frontbeach Taphouse & Restaraunt, Better Beer, Ocean Grind, Art of Minds and the Surf Coast Shire Council.

To attend the next DIIG meeting head to 4 Pines on Sunday, October 16 at 5:45pm.

For more information contact: [email protected]