Three and a half years ago Mark Burns took a morning walk around the lighthouse and thought it would be good to do it with some mates. Now there are 82 Man Walks happening weekly around Australia and three overseas, in Dublin, Niagara and Derby.

“We envisage that in five years time there will be 500 Walks happening, surrounded by a professional support structure,” says Mark.

“I want to be able to offer things like being able to jump on an app to record things, sign up for a mental health first aid course, come to the conference, run a community event, or do things like come to Kododa with me next year.”

A board of local men with diverse business and professional skills and experiences has been assembled to take the organisation to this next level.

Mark Burns

The 10 day Kokoda Walk, in March next year, will be the first event where participants from various Man Walks around Australia will get together.

It’s not being done as a fundraiser, but as a high profile way of connecting men to spread the concept even further.

“Right from the start our vision has been connecting men, strengthening communities,” says Mark.

“People ask is it a mental health charity? No, we are an organisation that gets blokes together for a walk and a talk. Our key drivers are combating social isolation and loneliness.

“But we are very aware getting together for a walk and a chat has very positive mental fitness and mental health benefits.”

Relaxing after the Walk at Jamberoo

While the anecdotal feedback has been very strong on these benefits, Man Walk is just about to embark on a health and wellbeing survey to get some objective measure of how the weekly walks are helping with mood, self esteem and fitness.

“Gathering these metrics will be good for getting grant funding to move to the next stage,” says Mark.

To celebrate International Mens Day on 19 November, seven combined Walks have been organised around Australia. Man Walkers from our region will be gathering at Shell Cove, with over 200 expected to attend the walk.

“The motto for this year’s Men’s Day is Make Time 4 Your Mates, so we are all going to try and bring along a couple of mates that haven’t done a Man Walk before,” says Mark.

“Afterwards there will be a free BBQ, featuring the special Man Walk Snags from Jamberoo Butchers made from beef, bacon and beer.”

Details of International Mens Day event: Saturday 19 November, Shell Cove Marina, 7am

Find out more about the movement from www.themanwalk.com.au

Local Walks:

Gerringong Starting Point: Gerringong Surf Club

Start Time: Tuesday 4:30pm & Friday 7:30am

Kiama Starting Point: Short Black Cafe

Start Time: Friday 6:00am

Jamberoo Starting Point: King’s Patisserie and Cafe

Start Time: Monday and Friday 6:15am