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Welcome to the very first community edition of the Men's Journeys publication.

One of the main reasons for establishing this information resource is to build a practical connection between those with information & resources in the community, and those without.

In the 21st century men still experience higher levels of suicides, heart disease, lung cancer, incarceration in prisons, and are often subject to being the perpetrators of violence against women, children and other men.

This publication aims provide a balance of community discussion, and further, to connect men of all ages, cultures and backgrounds, and is also inclusive of women's opinions in the general debate. Our ultimate aim is to highlight and encourage a greater community and personal awareness of
men and boys physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being.

In the past two years there has been a significant increase in the awareness and development
of men's support groups, health, & well being programs and other activities which are raising greater levels of awareness of what masculinity really means in the twenty first century.

Go to Men's Journeys No 2

Our basic philosophy
behind producing this publication is to provide an opportunity for the 'voices' of men & boys to be heard within the context of the local community.

As the Men's Journeys publication grows and develops into an effective community voice on behalf of all men in the community it is important to recognise the various diversities of what being a male means in the twenty first century.

This includes valuing, respecting and acknowledging the difference of masculine diversities as these impact on indigenous, homeless, disabled, gay, non-English speaking men within our community.

We welcome your thoughts, ideas, contributions or poems, letters to the editor, articles, which can assist this publication in raising the level of awareness of men & boys health & well being.

It is publicly recognised that majority of sole parents in the community are women , (although men also provide this role) who provide a supportive parenting role. However recent public debate and comment suggests that many children and adolescents frequently have little or no contact with positive supportive males, who can provide a mentoring role or 'father figure.

For many men the image of being stoic, the permanent provider, being devoid of real feelings, and maintaining a 'just getting on with life ' attitude remains a myth left over from the pioneering masculine image of the past. Within the community there are many professionals, voluntary workers, and peer support activities provided by both men & women that are contributing towards improving the overall health & well being of all men & boys in our society.

Future publications of Men's Journeys will feature and include constructive and open comment on the issues raised earlier.

Content

Double click on the item of your choice

Welcome

Who the hell is MACHS?

The Men's Place

Local Men's Health Conference

Editorial/contact details

Boys to Men - Albert Jamae

Fathers Club - Mick Piotto Future Features

Men's Activities /Resources

Editors:
Phillip Crouch
(08) 8381-9408
[email protected]

Mick Piotto
(08) 8384-9266
piotto.michael@
saugov.sa.gov.au

Albert Jamae
(08) 8327-3363
albertambrae
@one.net.au

Web Design:
Monika Baker mobak@ozemail.
com.au

Men's Journeys
PO Box 769
Noarlunga Centre
SA 5168.

machsmen
@senet.com.au

Printed by
Joe's Print Barn
Tel. (08) 8384 4731

 

MACHS, was formed in early 1999 as a response to community consultations.

The group's formation consists of a coalition of community workers from various agencies, and interested members from the wider community.

MACHS is based in the southern region of Adelaide SA.

A primary focus of MACHS is to promote men's involvement in their communities, and their own health & well being.

The group is auspiced by Healthy Cities Noarlunga Inc and supported by Noarlunga Health Services, City of Onkaparinga, Adelaide Central Mission and interested members from the wider community. Individual community members, and organisation representatives are welcomed to attend our committee meetings.

The Men's Place 2000/2001 One of the major project initiatives of MACHS is the establishment of The Men's Place as a contact & resource centre for men of all ages, cultures & backgrounds in the southern area.

A primary objective of The Men's Place is to provide a place where men can sit back relax and talk in a safe non-judgemental environment and determine what they want and need in the community. It is important to also emphasise that this group's community development model includes creating broader community links that develops a non-competitive approach with existing services for women in the community.

For more detailed information on how you can support this activity, become an active volunteer, provide in-kind support or financial sponsorship please contact MACHS.

Local Men's Health Conference
" Common Ground "-men actively developing community"

is the tile of a two day men's community health conference which is being held at the

SEM Centre, Grand Boulevard, Seaford,
South Australia on the 19th and 20th April 2001.

The key themes of this conference will reflect a broad range of practical and focused issues as identified through face to face consultations with men in the community.

These central themes are:

• Works stress & good health
• Parenting and fatherhood
• Work, unemployment & volunteering
• Men & violence
• Gambling
• Spirituality & masculinity

Individual men & women from the wider community, community service agencies, business, sporting, religious or cultural groups, and other organisations are invited to attend this local conference.

The conference convening committee is seeking expressions of interest from individuals or groups who wish to present, attend, become a volunteer or otherwise contribute to this important men's health & well being community conference.

For more detailed information about MACHS, The Men's Place or the Common Ground conference click here

or please contact

Jules (08) 8325-8100,
Gaynor (08) 8202-5111,
or Philip (08) 8381-9408
or write to MACHS PO Box 769
Noarlunga Centre SA 5168.
Email: [email protected]

To register for the conference click here

WANTED - WANTED
We need your poems comments, short or long articles, for the next issue to be distributed in December

FUTURE FEATURES
of the Men's Journeys publication will include:

• Did you know?
• Net info news
• What women say about men!
• Social, political, & spiritual issues,
• Fathers in the community
• Men's health & well being,
• MACHS/The Men's Place /Conference
• updates…other…

1994 Inaugural Speech-Nelson Mandela

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure,

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant and gorgeous, talented and fabulous ,

Actually who are you not to be?

You are a child of God, your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

You were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our won fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Boys to Men
by Albert Jamae

Hi, my name is Albert; father of three children, two boys and a girl.

During the course of my parenthood, I have experienced many dilemmas in trying to achieve a healthy family unit. Despite the desire to be a good male role model for my two boys to observe, the absence of a strong fatherly figure in my own childhood has certainly toughened my challenge.

I also know many other fathers who experience similar difficulties in wanting to bring up their children contrast to the way they were raised. Yet the fact remains that in today's society there is a growing concern that young boys are not getting what they need. That is, a regular male role model who can install fair discipline with clear boundaries, whilst comfortably sharing feelings, compassion, and comfort. I believe this is largely due to a social consciousness that doesn't fully support boy's/men's inner needs.

Albert is a poet & script -writer who lives at Seaford SA.

The pleyades

Fathers Club
by Mick Piotto

Another individual who is making a recognisable difference in the southern region on behalf of men who are fathers, is Mick Piotto, a social worker and father of four. Mick is based at the Noarlunga Health Services, NHS, Noarlunga SA.

Recently Mick facilitated a five- week course entitled "Active Fathering" attended by fifteen current or expectant fathers.

Since the conclusion of this course a Fathers Club has been established, and Mick along with Gina Lawley from the NHS facilitate regular meetings which are held the

first & third Wednesday of the month
at the Noarlunga Health Village Auditorium, Alexander Kelly Drive, Noarlunga
(behind the Shell service station).

The meetings commence at 7.00pm and conclude at 9.00pm.

Some of the topics that are raised in the group include child development, what fathering means, children's behaviour, disabilities, and the experiences of other fathers.

For more information contact
Mick Piotto or Gina Lawley on (08) 8384-9266, or John, (08) 8326-6067.

Are Men's needs different from women's?

There are many men trying to make a difference within our society towards improving the overall health & well being of men & boys in South Australia and other places throughout the nation.

The question is often raised about the real differences between men & women's health & well being, if any.

Peter Curran, a community volunteer with the Men's Information & Support Centre, MISC, Adelaide has been involved in men's issues for over twenty years.

In a recent MISC Journal article he states " Is there something specific about 'Men's Wellbeing?" Is well being different for men & women?

Basically it is not. In the realm of the truly human powers of feeling, thinking, imagining and deciding there is nothing that is specific to men nor to women. Variations are in individuals not groups"-

Peter Curran, MISC Journal page 8, Issue 122, Autum 2000