Welcome to our Community
Behind our services, our men’s groups and weekend gatherings, there is a community of men and their families. We bring together a wide range of backgrounds and interests. We believe that building stronger connection between men improves both their individual welfare and the families and communities to which they belong.
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History of Mens Wellbeing
Mens Wellbeing Inc was formed in Queensland, Australia in 1998 although our activities go back further. Over our more than 30 years of activity there have been thousands of men who have been a part of our community, and some have been good enough to share their stories with us. These stories were collected in a project called Men of Mens Wellbeing by our member Rod Smith.
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David Watermeyer…..So I’ve taken up the invite to write a bit about my connection with men and the Mens Wellbeing organisation.
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Terrence Bishop
My deep need for men’s work began long before I could see it, as a toddler, born into a family tree drenched in feminine energy.
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Pravas
I came to Mens work at the suggestion of my former wife at a time when I had “deconstructed” my life in mid 1990’s.
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Duncan Stuart
My involvement with Men’s work commenced in 1997 in Sydney, when my psychologist referred me to a group that he provided for his clients as a maintenance mechanism…
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Tim Easton
I first connected to Mens Wellbeing in 1999 when my marriage was on the rocks.
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Hunter Reed
2025. With hindsight, I realise that my life could have turned out very differently had it not been for desperation and coincidence…
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Robert Ah-Hoon
I look around my study/computer area & see evidence of how Mens Wellbeing impacts my life. I see my Common Ground Facilitator Manual, my Open Men’s Group Box, the flyers…
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Rod Smith
As I sit in my eldering years, I look into my past and contemplate what was, what was not and reflect on how and where I am in the present.
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Peter Kroll
It’s a surreal experience for me to reflect on the time before I became a part of Mens Wellbeing.
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Udo Cosgrave
Manshine. When I first came across the word, it felt like a stranger—unfamiliar, a bit unsettling, yet oddly magnetic.
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Mike Mee
Like many men, I found my way to men’s work and the Mens Wellbeing community during a very challenging time in my life.
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Philip Pettit
At 7yrs of age said I to myself ‘That’s it I’m not getting close to anyone, ever again!
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Tony Speare
I was participating in this community of positivity and connection at a Mens Wellbeing weekend “Manshine” and yet I experienced deep personal suffering…
Rod has also written ripples—a history of Mens Wellbeing Inc from its beginnings to mid–2023, available print-on-demand from lulu.com
Reader Comments
It was awesome. Quite a bit of the early history that I didn’t know. So succinct and informative. I loved it. I feel very privileged to be acknowledged. Thanks. – Caitlin
The definitive resource for the history of Mens Wellbeing. Rod, thank you. – Martin
Elders
Our vision is a world where Elders are valued as Guardians of what is important and sacred in life, where maturity is appreciated and celebrated, and where caring for our family, community and country in old(er) age is the natural path for ourselves and our culture. Like life itself, we understand that Elderhood is not a place that we arrive at. It is not the peak of a mountain that we stand upon to gaze down on the rest of the world. It is a state of humility and emergence.
Through regular meetings and annual weekend retreats in south-east Queensland and Victoria, our older members have set themselves the task of establishing an eldership tradition for our community. It’s very clear that eldership is very difficult to define and nail down in contemporary Australian society but we are open to elements of spirituality and embracing our roles as carers, guides & guardians in our communities, culture & Country.
To learn more:
- Look for the Elderman and Bedrock gatherings in our events calendar;
- Subscribe to our email announcements;
- Read “Towards Eldering”, by Cash Ahenakew of the Gesturing Towards Decolonial Futures Group of Canada. <https://decolonialfutures.net/portfolio/towards-eldering/>
https://facebook.com/menswellbeing – our main page to like and follow
https://www.facebook.com/groups/579289042744100 – a private group for more informal discussion
https://facebook.com/menergygathering – a page specific for our annual Menergy weekend gathering in Victoria
Mens Wellbeing Inc.
Queensland Incorporation number IA19113
ACNC-registered, DGR-endorsed Health Promotion Charity
ABN 90 719 710 534
© 2026 Mens Wellbeing Inc.