Sport lunch provides platform for men’s mental health support

LUNCH with your Mates will have a rugby league flavour to it this year with the men’s mental health fundraiser returning to the Northern Rivers Hotel at Lismore.

Guest speakers at the event include Noel ‘Crusher’ Cleal, John Muggleton and Craig Salvatori.

Sports media stalwart Ian Hanson will MC the event which will be held on Friday, 1 May.

Cleal has a connection to the region, originally from Warialda, he played rugby league in Lismore before going on to a first-grade career in Sydney.

He played nearly 200 games for Manly and the Eastern Suburbs and represented NSW and Australia.

The 67-year-old went on to become one of the top recruitment managers in the NRL.

The event is another coup for the Hotel, which hosted the Gold Coast Titans squad earlier this year.

It held Lunch with your Mates for the first time last year with the event raising money for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and the Bangalow Men’s Shed.

The idea came from a similar event in Bangalow which centred on men’s mental health.

“I was shocked by some of the statistics and a lot of people probably don’t know how bad it is,” event organiser Tony Durheim said.

“It’s a chance to share important information while still enjoying a fun afternoon together.”

The event caters to men of all ages and promotes support through conversations.

Group bookings need to be reserved by Friday, 24 April.

All bookings, including courtesy bus arrangements, can be made by calling 02 6627 6119.

Anyone needing mental health support and information can contact the Australian Men’s Shed Association on 1300 550 009, or Lifeline on 13 11 14 for immediate assistance.