I am saying Goodbye to my long, bleached, and dread-locked hair in the name of Mallee Men's Health and I am calling for your love and help! I have donned the dreads for over two and a half years, and whether you are saddened or delighted to see them go, I hope you can support my significant change for the good! :')
The health and wellbeing of men is often neglected by society, community discussion, the media, and by the men themselves. Particularly, the health of retired, non-working, and rural/isolated men can easily suffer and they are our fathers, grandfathers, sons and brothers. I am supporting our local Shed's that aim to support these men, the Nyah District and Lake Boga Men's Shed's.
Local organisers and members of the Shed's are volunteers and it is able to run only from occasional Federal Government grants via the Australian Men's Shed Association, donations (in the form of money or tools) and small proceeds from completing projects in the surrounding community. These Men's Shed's are utilised by men all around the Swan Hill area, with the next closest being Balranald, and Moulamein.
The Men''s Shed initiative provides is a safe and friendly environment for for men to find new purpose and passion in life, a place to really help their surrounding community and themselves at the same time, and a place to access health information and messages via regular newsletters and, and with finances providing, special events with guest speakers.
As a local to the Nyah West region I am so pleased that the Men's Shed initiative to make it to the town (since 2011). Community organisations that has benefited from this Shed's projects include the Nyah West Kindergarden and the Manangatang School.
The Lake Boga Men's Shed has just started in last couple of years and already has strong social and full-time members. I have spent a lot of my childhood weekends at the Lake Boga Yacht Club I am so glad for the men that will benefit from it.
The campaign will continue until the first 6th March. No donation is too small and I'll appreciate it greatly.
Alternative donation options are..
Bank deposit:
Name: Men's Shed Fundraising Campaign
BSB: 633 000
Acc: 156 720 401
Cash donation buckets: businesses throughout Nyah West and Lake Boga, and Swan Hill businesses
To me in person
If you're curious as to see if i'll turn out looking lovely like a head-shaved Natalie Portman or Demi Moore, or rather like a funny looking boy; the actual shaving fiasco will take place at 6:30pm on Sunday the 28th February at the Swan Hill Club.
A little more about the Men's Shed Association which support Men's Shed:
AMSA, funded by the Federal Department of Health to provide practical support to Men’s Sheds and enable AMSA to deliver a wide range of services, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of members and reduce the number of men who are at risk from preventable health issues that may emanate from isolation.
Every Men’s Shed is a community-based, non-profit, non-commercial organisation that is accessible to all men and whose primary activity is the provision of a safe and friendly environment where men are able to work on meaningful projects. There are more than 930 Men’s Sheds and is recognised as one of Australia’s largest male based Community Development organisations.
You did it mate!