1
00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:03,400
Speaker 1: I always really like hearing about different events that happen

2
00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:07,280
Speaker 1: across the Northern Territory, particularly when we talk about bringing

3
00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:12,680
Speaker 1: blokes together and talking about mental health and supporting each other. Now,

4
00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,840
Speaker 1: there was a walk held on the twenty second of March.

5
00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:20,960
Speaker 1: It was twenty five kilometers as I understand it around

6
00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:23,639
Speaker 1: the Darwin waterfront. And joining me in the studio to

7
00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:26,000
Speaker 1: tell us a little bit more is the person who

8
00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:30,280
Speaker 1: organized walk for a bloke in Darwin, Michael Collins. Good

9
00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:31,720
Speaker 1: morning to you, Michael.

10
00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:32,320
Speaker 2: Good morning. How are you?

11
00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:34,440
Speaker 1: Yeah? Really good mate, Lovely to have you in the

12
00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:37,200
Speaker 1: studio now, gat to be here. I first heard about

13
00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:39,479
Speaker 1: this through a friend of mine, Mark Gasparas, so I

14
00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,120
Speaker 1: know it took part in the event on the twenty

15
00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:46,080
Speaker 1: second and it is. It looks like it's a wonderful event.

16
00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:48,640
Speaker 1: It's something that's happened across the nation, didn't.

17
00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:53,080
Speaker 2: They Yes, So it happened in nineteen locations total, three

18
00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:59,080
Speaker 2: of those were international. There was in total two five

19
00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:03,480
Speaker 2: hundred men took part in the walk across Australia and

20
00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:08,280
Speaker 2: those three international destinations. In total, we raised just over

21
00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:11,480
Speaker 2: three hundred and fifty thousand dollars that which is amazing,

22
00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:16,119
Speaker 2: all that more wonderful towards helping men with mental health issues.

23
00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:18,440
Speaker 1: Yeah, so tell us a little bit more about what

24
00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:23,600
Speaker 1: the aim of the walk was, but also the broader

25
00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,000
Speaker 1: you know, the broader community. I guess that it's great.

26
00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:28,840
Speaker 2: Yet something like the aim of the walk twenty five

27
00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:33,600
Speaker 2: kilometers is certainly a challenge. I don't think my right

28
00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:36,520
Speaker 2: knee has forgiven me yet, but it is. It was

29
00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,720
Speaker 2: a fantastic day. Basically, the aim was to get men

30
00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:44,039
Speaker 2: out of their comfort zone, get them talking. It was

31
00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:49,400
Speaker 2: a men's only walk, and initially when I was setting

32
00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:51,080
Speaker 2: it all up, I did get a few questions from

33
00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:53,880
Speaker 2: women why is it men's only? Because we want to help,

34
00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:57,720
Speaker 2: And it was absolutely fantastic the reason it was men's only.

35
00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:00,120
Speaker 2: And I'll be honest with you, before the day of

36
00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:03,000
Speaker 2: the walk, I don't know if I could answer that correctly.

37
00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:06,600
Speaker 2: But on the day we're in the first kilometer, that

38
00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,320
Speaker 2: question was answered. A guy turned to me and he said,

39
00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:13,080
Speaker 2: how do you do it? So? What's that? He was like,

40
00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:17,520
Speaker 2: how do you work every day? Look after your family?

41
00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:22,000
Speaker 1: Say I'm getting a bit oh my, yeah, Well it.

42
00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:24,880
Speaker 2: Just goes just not just the pressure that people are

43
00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:28,040
Speaker 2: under to provide, to make sure the family is safe,

44
00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:31,360
Speaker 2: everything like that. So that question was answered.

45
00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:35,560
Speaker 1: Mate, You've given me goosebumps, because sometimes those conversations are

46
00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:37,399
Speaker 1: hard to have in front of women as well, right,

47
00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:42,680
Speaker 1: because men want to feel like they can look after

48
00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:44,840
Speaker 1: their families. They want to feel like they can provide

49
00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:47,720
Speaker 1: for their families, and in our day and age, that's

50
00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,720
Speaker 1: not always easy. You know. There are a lot of

51
00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:55,760
Speaker 1: factors that impact men in different ways. And I think

52
00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:58,560
Speaker 1: it's really important. Like I'm not offended as a woman

53
00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,000
Speaker 1: not being able to go on that because I actually

54
00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,000
Speaker 1: think it's a really good thing for blokes to get together.

55
00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:07,920
Speaker 2: No, because we had all of our people that were

56
00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:10,480
Speaker 2: helping us on the day, Like, there was so many

57
00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:13,079
Speaker 2: women got involved and it was absolutely fantastic.

58
00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:15,960
Speaker 1: But it's so important that you guys know that you

59
00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:19,040
Speaker 1: can have those discussions with each other, right, there's no judgment.

60
00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,000
Speaker 1: You can talk to each other about, you know, about

61
00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:24,080
Speaker 1: some of the things that might be tough about some

62
00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,799
Speaker 1: of those struggles. But it has to be an environment

63
00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,040
Speaker 1: where people feel comfortable to be able to do that.

64
00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:32,400
Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, and I think pushing men beyond the elements.

65
00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:35,600
Speaker 2: The twenty five care was definitely beyond my limit, and

66
00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,200
Speaker 2: it was just so fantastic. You just feel yourself opening

67
00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:40,840
Speaker 2: up to people, you talk to everyone, and it was

68
00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:41,680
Speaker 2: it was really good.

69
00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:44,760
Speaker 1: So tell me, you know, across that twenty five kilometers,

70
00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:46,840
Speaker 1: you must have heard, you must have had lots of

71
00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:50,160
Speaker 1: different conversation with blokes or conversations.

72
00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:53,560
Speaker 2: With unbelievable like we spoke about everything from that first

73
00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:56,360
Speaker 2: guy talking about his family, work, he was just saw

74
00:03:56,440 --> 00:04:02,000
Speaker 2: under pressure, talking about guys had issues with their carriers

75
00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:05,400
Speaker 2: and talking about this. It was just absolutely fantastic that

76
00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:09,760
Speaker 2: men just opened up. I was that way for years.

77
00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:15,040
Speaker 2: I couldn't talk to anyone. I just closed up. But

78
00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:18,240
Speaker 2: it's just so good. I've learned to handle that and

79
00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:21,600
Speaker 2: to deal with that. Yep. And that's what I'm aiming

80
00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:23,560
Speaker 2: to do with this. I'm going to make this a

81
00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:28,240
Speaker 2: yearly thing endarrement, and I just I want guys to

82
00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:30,240
Speaker 2: know that there is an avenue there to talk.

83
00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:33,120
Speaker 1: I think it's a fantastic thing to do. Like I say,

84
00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:37,520
Speaker 1: you know, I'm really I'm really big on like on

85
00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,320
Speaker 1: men's health, blokes keep an eye out for each other

86
00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:43,480
Speaker 1: as well, and anything like this, any of these kind

87
00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:45,840
Speaker 1: of initiatives that you may be able to, you know,

88
00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:48,200
Speaker 1: to do, to get involved in, to help each other

89
00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,159
Speaker 1: is a really great thing. Now tell me in terms

90
00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:55,120
Speaker 1: of the greater you know, like the greater charity. I

91
00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:59,320
Speaker 1: guess it's called spoke to a bloke, isn't that? How?

92
00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:00,640
Speaker 1: Why was it create? It?

93
00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:05,280
Speaker 2: That was created? In twenty twenty two, there was a

94
00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,880
Speaker 2: beautiful family. I've spoken to most of that family. They

95
00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:14,360
Speaker 2: lost their brother Nick to suicide. The way the story

96
00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:17,640
Speaker 2: was put to me was that they actually got together

97
00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:24,280
Speaker 2: to plan for the state of origin. They were to

98
00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:26,520
Speaker 2: get together and go in a few games, all that

99
00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:29,200
Speaker 2: sort of stuff, and yeah, a couple of days later

100
00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:33,040
Speaker 2: he committed suicide. They didn't pick up on signs and

101
00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:38,520
Speaker 2: they so they were really obviously like, oh, we should

102
00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:40,160
Speaker 2: have done this, we should have done that. But hindsight

103
00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:40,760
Speaker 2: is a great thing.

104
00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:41,600
Speaker 1: So yeah, just.

105
00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:47,040
Speaker 2: It was I'm assuming he felt as though he had

106
00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:50,440
Speaker 2: no one to talk to, no way out, And that's

107
00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:51,640
Speaker 2: that's what I want to change.

108
00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,160
Speaker 1: So this walk, it's gonna happen every year. You might

109
00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:57,600
Speaker 1: have committment to that. There is still there is still

110
00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:01,360
Speaker 1: people walking throughout the month. Isn't there money throughout the month?

111
00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:04,000
Speaker 2: On the website Spoke for a Block. There is an

112
00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,960
Speaker 2: option there called Challenge for a Block yep, and you

113
00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:09,760
Speaker 2: can basically go on and create your own challenge. You

114
00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:12,960
Speaker 2: can do it company, you can do a group of friends.

115
00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:17,920
Speaker 2: There's no minimum numbers required and it's absolutely fantastic. You

116
00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:21,000
Speaker 2: can also go on and just donate on Spoke to

117
00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,880
Speaker 2: a Block as well as a huge yellow donate button

118
00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:24,960
Speaker 2: and it's fantastic.

119
00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:26,839
Speaker 1: No, I know you touched on the fact that it

120
00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:28,680
Speaker 1: was like it was an event for me, and I

121
00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:31,279
Speaker 1: think that's a really nice thing. There was some women

122
00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,760
Speaker 1: wanting to help out. Now, one of these women actually

123
00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:37,960
Speaker 1: shaved her head to raise some money, didn't she. Yes,

124
00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:39,960
Speaker 1: she did tell me a little bit about Holly.

125
00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:44,120
Speaker 2: So her name is Holly. It was on the twenty

126
00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:49,080
Speaker 2: first of February we had a dare to shave yep.

127
00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:54,560
Speaker 2: Sorry Brave. The shave was actually the correct one I used.

128
00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:58,080
Speaker 2: It started off with five of us, and of course

129
00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:00,160
Speaker 2: there was a couple of Defense Force guys in the

130
00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:02,040
Speaker 2: pub at tonight and they were like, oh, we want

131
00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:04,760
Speaker 2: to get involved, and I think about fifteen people in

132
00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:08,479
Speaker 2: total and they're shaving their head. Holly decided from dear

133
00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,080
Speaker 2: one the very second I mentioned it, she wanted to

134
00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:11,680
Speaker 2: share her head.

135
00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:12,920
Speaker 1: Oh that's so good.

136
00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,760
Speaker 2: Her partner had mental health issues a few years back

137
00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:21,200
Speaker 2: where he tried to commit suicide. Thankfully he pulled through.

138
00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,640
Speaker 2: Everything is good when she decided to shave her head.

139
00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:27,680
Speaker 2: After she shared her head, actually she came to me

140
00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,160
Speaker 2: and said, just to let you know, I'm actually getting

141
00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:34,200
Speaker 2: married in four weeks. So I've seen the wedding pictures

142
00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:40,880
Speaker 2: that are absolutely beautiful and absolutely fantastic that she got involved.

143
00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:43,080
Speaker 1: Do you know this is the thing though, Like I

144
00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:45,800
Speaker 1: just always, like I think to myself, Mina is so

145
00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:49,360
Speaker 1: important in our lives, right, Like we've all if you

146
00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:52,560
Speaker 1: no longer have your dad, you know, we've all had dads.

147
00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:56,320
Speaker 1: We've got husbands, we've got brothers, we've got sons, we've

148
00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,600
Speaker 1: got nephews. We've got people in our lives that are

149
00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:02,200
Speaker 1: so important to us. And I'm really passionate about that.

150
00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:04,760
Speaker 1: I'm so fortunate to have grown up in a family

151
00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:09,760
Speaker 1: and where you know, my dad was a huge part

152
00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:13,360
Speaker 1: of raising us. I've got two really strong older brothers,

153
00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:16,920
Speaker 1: I've got a wonderful husband, I've got nephews, I've got

154
00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:20,320
Speaker 1: a son. We have to we have to keep an

155
00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:23,160
Speaker 1: eye on our men, and we have to do things

156
00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:26,360
Speaker 1: to break down the stigma, to break down those barrasters

157
00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:29,760
Speaker 1: so that you guys are happy to have those conversations

158
00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:31,040
Speaker 1: with each other because we need you.

159
00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:32,439
Speaker 2: Thank you.

160
00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:35,600
Speaker 1: You know, we need our blogs, and our blogs are

161
00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:38,840
Speaker 1: so important in our lives. And you know, to anybody

162
00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,040
Speaker 1: out there listening this morning, if you are going through

163
00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:43,480
Speaker 1: a bit of a tough period, you can get in

164
00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:47,640
Speaker 1: contact with Lifeline on thirteen eleven fourteen. You can also

165
00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:52,080
Speaker 1: jump online and check out the Spoke to a Bloke website,

166
00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:55,560
Speaker 1: which I would definitely recommend that you do, but also

167
00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:58,240
Speaker 1: remind yourselves. You know that you are so important to

168
00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:01,440
Speaker 1: everybody in your family, to everybody in your life, and

169
00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:05,840
Speaker 1: if you need to hear that this morning, definitely, Yeah,

170
00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:09,200
Speaker 1: make sure that you hear that message because we want

171
00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:09,680
Speaker 1: you around.

172
00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:12,840
Speaker 2: Yes, we want you here. Absolutely, your family needs, your

173
00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:13,680
Speaker 2: friends need you.

174
00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:17,880
Speaker 1: That's exactly right, Michael lovely to speak to you this morning.

175
00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:21,480
Speaker 1: I really appreciate your time and let us know. Next year,

176
00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:23,880
Speaker 1: I'd love to make sure that we can let all

177
00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:26,760
Speaker 1: of our listeners know about the event. Yeah, good to

178
00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:28,760
Speaker 1: have you in the studio. Thank you, thank you,