Mindfully impacting male members of the community is Coonabarabran Rotary Club’s new program, Barbie with the Blokes.

Previous gatherings have had high levels of success as men opened up to share their feelings. This indicated a safe and trusting space, created by organiser Russ James, Coonabarabran Rotary Club president, and director of Tradies In Sight, Bruno Efoti.

During November last year the program embarked on its mission to bring men together.

Three sessions have since been held, totalling 45 attendees, new and returning, and involved a meal and a discussion around mental health.

The program aims to provide support and resources to men who may otherwise be reluctant to talk about their experiences.

After personal encounters with a friend who died from suicide on a work site, Mr Efoti and his wife studied and gained qualifications in professional counselling.

Mr Efoti then turned his experience into Tradies In Sight, as a way to connect tradespeople to one another.

Throughout his journey he has met around 3000 men who have had the courage to speak up about their emotions.

Both programs – Barbie with the Blokes and Tradies In Sight – identify a need for men to be heard and supported.

Barbie with the Blokes currently receives financial support from Rotary, but this funding is set to conclude in June of this year. There is optimism that the program may persist beyond the cessation of funding, as MrJames envisions the community of ‘blokes’ coming together to sustain and develop the initiative as an ongoing project.

After only three session of Barbie with the Blokes, both Mr James and Mr Efoti were surprised at the level of openness amongst the attendees.

They noted how the men shared deeply on emotional topics and were not afraid to be vulnerable.

Mr James was confident the program has had a positive impact to the community.

“There is stuff that goes on in blokes’ lives that they don’t readily share with their partners or anyone close to them. Particularly in business such as farming,” Mr James said.

“I remember reading a book once where it talked about men living lives of ‘quiet desperation’. There are things that happen in life that not everyone is willing to share or are confident in sharing.

“Gathering for a feed also plays a big part in the process. Blokes love a good feed – provided meat is a part of it!”

During the second meeting, Mr James grew curious about the reasons behind the men’s return or initial attendance. He approached one of the attendees and inquired about his decision to participate in the session.

“This bloke told me, if I had tried to talk to him about depression 10 years ago, he would have told me to eat a bit of concrete and harden up,” Mr James said.

“The man continued explaining how some people in his life went into depression and he didn’t understand how real it was and how it’s so debilitating.

“He wanted to come along to contribute, or just to learn.”

Both Mr James and Mr Efoti are pleased with the success of each session, observing significant progress in the men’s capacity to establish connections with one another.

Sessions are and will be held in areas “where blokes go”, such as Roach’s Hardware, Pursehouse Rural, Elders and the Coona Club.

The next session will be feature a pig on a spit, with a date yet to be confirmed.

The message Mr James takes away from the sessions is how intentional investment towards the community and their wellbeing provides results.

“Real men do cry. Real blokes get in touch with their emotions.”

The next Barbie with the Blokes event will be held at Pursehouse Rural from 6pm on Friday, 16 February 2024. To RSVP, please phone Russ on 0414 248 540.