Freemasons come clean on men’s health

By Jim Mynard
KOOWEERUP Freemasons have decided that all secrets should be revealed when it comes to men’s health.
The lodge will conduct a men’s health awareness seminar at the Kooweerup Masonic Centre, 238 Rossiter Road, at 7.30pm on Saturday 21 October.
Guest speakers will be Dr John O’Donohue who will discuss how men can maintain and improve their health, and Dr Ted Stephens who will speak about Beyond Blue.
Dr Stephens, a psychologist and founding leader of the Peer Support Foundation, introduced a wide range of counter bullying and early intervention programs addressing suicide and selfharm. He is now psychologist and family therapist for 10 Gippsland schools.
Seminar coordinator Alan Knowles said men had treated their own health as secret for too long.
“Through a series of relaxed and informative seminars, men’s health and health related issues will be brought into the open.
The seminar will cover the need for men to have regular checkups by a general practitioner for heart, depression awareness, erectile dysfunction, diabetes, and anger management.
Mr Knowles said freemasonry was one of the world’s oldest community organisations.
“As part of this, the health and wellbeing of every male is a modernday issue that should be bought into the open.
“We think if we can be more open about Freemasonry, surely men can be more open about their health.
“For both, it is time for no more secrets,” he said.
The seminar is free and light refreshments will be served, courtesy of Elders Fertiliser, Kooweerup. Although it is a men’s health seminar, partners are most welcome.