Men's Health Week

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (15:35): Today, I would like to say a few words about an event that was held in my electorate last week, but also more generally about men's health. Last week was Men's Health Week nationally, and the major event in my community in Gawler was an open day by our local Men's Shed. I would like to congratulate Willo's Men's Shed, which is located on Little Paxton Street at Willaston, for a very successful open day. It was their first external open day, if you like, and there were a lot of people in attendance, both men and women, and young people.

Open days, or any major event, are made possible through the generosity of a number of people. I would just like to acknowledge some local businesses and other people who made this event possible in addition to the men at the Men's Shed who worked very hard to spruce up the shed for the occasion and who also put on display all the various products they produce at the shed and an indication of the services they provide to the community and support in other community organisations.

I would like to acknowledge a couple of the smaller traders in our town: She's Apples, which is a local, independent fruit and vegetable store; the Gawler Mitre 10; the Gawler Salvation Army; the Gawler Lodge of Fidelity; and the Gawler Medical Clinic, who provided nurses to do men's health checks on the day. I would also like to acknowledge the Lutheran Church; Blokes @ Hewett; the Gawler Veteran, Vintage and Classic Vehicle Club; and the Gawler Tractor and Engine Association.

I would also like to acknowledge the contributions made on the day through the displays: the Edinburgh unit of the State Emergency Service and also the Gawler station MFS. In addition, valuable funding was also supported by the Australian Men's Association and the Rotary Club of Gawler Light. I would also like to acknowledge the support provided by the Gawler Farmers' Market and the Gawler Lions Station Sunday market, who enabled the event to be promoted at their markets free of charge.

In addition, I would like to also acknowledge the contribution that a number of other organisations make to men's health. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the work done by the Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health at the University of Adelaide, headed by Professor Wittert. Professor Wittert would be known to a lot of people as a commentator on men's health, particularly on radio. That centre is doing a number of studies about men's health and how to improve men's health, not only in this state but across Australia. I would also like to acknowledge in New South Wales the Western Sydney University Men's Health Information and Resource Centre, which has a longstanding commitment to improving the availability of information about men's health to men right across Australia.

I would also like to mention that the reason Men's Health Week is very important is that it is about encouraging communities across Australia to reach out to men, boys and their families to promote health and wellbeing through engaging them in activities, events and promotions. The local events, like Willo's Men's Shed open day, provide an opportunity for men to get together and discuss health issues. As I mentioned, one of the basic men's health issues is obviously their physical health, but just as important is their emotional and spiritual wellbeing. I would like to again thank the Gawler Medical Clinic for providing nursing staff on the day to provide men's checks. I understand that a few of the men now have follow-up appointments with doctors as a result of the basic checks undertaken.

The theme for the 2016 Men's Health Week was Health Elements. It is about encouraging communities to start those conversations about the elements of life that build health and life's purpose. One thing I learnt from a talk last night provided by the former premier, the Hon. Lynn Arnold, is that human beings seek to find meaning and purpose in life. For a lot of men, when things go wrong they lose that sense of meaning and purpose. For example, men who become redundant or whose relationships break down, or whose partner dies often lose their direction and sense of purpose and meaning. Places like the Men's Shed help men to work through those issues.

It is sad that the federal government has decided to cut funding to a range of men's programs, and I would just like to also acknowledge the valuable work done by organisations like MATES in Construction.

Time expired.