The Man Walk makes great strides

THE Man Walk is a simple concept that has had a profound influence on several local participants.

It started in Kiama in 2018, offering men an easy way to form social connections while being active, and has since spread across the country, including the Surf Coast.

The Torquay Man Walk has partnered with Art of the Minds throughout October to help celebrate National Mental Health Month.

Torquay Man Walk co-founder Murray Heard attended his first Man Walk in Geelong a bit over a year ago, and said he was surprised with what he found.

“It was advertised as starting at 7am in Geelong. When I got there I was running late, and I pulled up at the foreshore where they had the walk and it was pitch-black, but you could hear them walking along, all you heard were conversations,” Mr Heard said.

“I went back and had coffee with them, and I ended up sitting with a guy who was 74 and a Vietnam Vet. He started talking about everything that he went through in Vietnam. This was a guy who I had never spoken to before who just opened up starts talking like that. It was pretty amazing.”

Mr Heard met with a few people about potentially starting a Man Walk in Torquay, including Peter Kelly.

Mr Kelly had also been introduced to the Man Walk through the Geelong group and said he found the uncomplicated nature of the walk very appealing.

“I had some contact with Chris Litis who started up the Geelong Walk around the waterfront. I have a bit of a background in health promotion, so I was really interested in some men’s health activities.

“It’s such a simple concept, it doesn’t take anyone organising anything. You just rock up and if there’s two people or 22 people then off you go, it isn’t reliant on any one person.”

Mr Heard said while the idea of the walk is based on improving men’s mental health, there is a broader social aspect to it that greats great comradery among participants.

“You’re talking with people that you don’t really know, and there are people you’ve never met in your life, but you can have such good conversations.

“A while back I hurt my leg, and we had to move out of home for a few weeks while we got some renovations done. They all offered to come around and help move stuff out.”

Mr Heard said a diverse range of people join the walk, with their reasons for joining similarly diverse.

“It’s a way for people who are new to town to meet locals, you’ve got your people who are there because they need to get out and talk to someone, and for others, it’s a way of getting off our butts going to do something.”

Mr Kelly said the walks have similarly become an event he looks forward to.

“It’s great. If I don’t do it, I find I really miss it. I look forward to catching up with the guys and I also like the physical exercise side of it and just being able to enjoy the beautiful landscape down here in Torquay.

People can contact the group by joining the Facebook page or by heading to themanwalk.com.au/Torquay or meet the group at the Salty Dog Café at 7am on Saturday.