Putting men's health in the spotlight
Published on 21 June 2024
Goldenfields Water put a focus on men’s health last week, coinciding with International Men’s Health Week 10-16 June 2024.
The council hosted 50 of its male staff, along with 20 male staff members from its constituent councils including Temora, Cootamundra-Gundagai, and Hilltops at an event on Thursday 13th June. The event featured guest speaker and ex AFL player Steven Baker who shared his personal journey of growth and resilience.
Now retired, 12-year veteran of the St Kilda football club, Best & Fairest winner, and participant in 3 grand finals, Steven’s remarkable football career led him to motivational speaking. He is now dedicated to spreading awareness about mental health and teaching others how to ‘Build GRIT’.
“My aim is to ignite inspiration, encouraging individuals to persist and never give up no matter how bad circumstances get, sharing my lived experiences,” states Mr Baker on his GRIT talks.
Baker’s personal story is one of resilience, marked by the highs of success and the depths of adversity. From his achievements as a professional athlete in AFL to the personal struggles he faced off the field, Mr Baker openly shared his experiences with the audience, encouraging them to embrace their own journeys.
Matthew Stadtmiller, Goldenfields Water Chairperson, said of Mr Baker’s presentation, “Baker was an out of the box, hilarious individual with a caring nature who was at the same time ultra-competitive on the field. His competitiveness saw him push the boundaries whilst playing, but it made him vulnerable at times. He showed how you can confront difficult times including facing your demons and come out the other side. His GRIT presentation connected with his audience, and I think there was a number of individuals who enjoyed his matter-of-fact approach to life.”
Cr Stadtmiller went on to say of the overall event, “It is important to Goldenfields Water that we are promoting the positive health and wellbeing of our staff. This event was an opportunity for us to focus on our male staff, and the physical, emotional and mental health challenges they face.”
International Men’s Health Week celebrated its 30th anniversary this year and is a great opportunity for organisations, workplaces, and communities to focus on some of the different ways we can keep men and boys healthier.
To find out more about Men’s Health visit Australian Men’s Health Forum www.amhf.org.au