Wimmera Against Cancer in Kids is hosting event Check Engine Light Night, an opportunity for men and the people in their lives to check in on their mental health.

On International Men’s Day, organiser and WACK volunteer Simon Clark said a car and bike show would lead into a ‘tin shed’ event with guest speakers Rae Bonney and Justin Knorpp.

“For 20-odd years I’ve been part-running the WACK car and bike show, but the last few years, every few events we’ve had, folks have come up and said, ‘hey, thanks for putting this on, I really needed it’ – the social interaction,” he said.

“It got me thinking, and I really want to do something to thank everyone who has come along and supported WACK for so many years.

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“Nothing much happens on International Men’s Day for blokes, so I thought, how about we host an event in a tin shed for blokes, talking about men’s health.

“The sad part is, one of our WACK trustees took his life earlier this year. That was the thing that really pushed me to organise it.”

Mr Clark said a Horsham Rural City Council grant has covered the cost of a barbecue and soft drinks, making the event free of charge.

“We’ll have a local fella come along to tell his story, and then I’ll have Rae Bonney, OAM, who is a men’s mental health advocate – she’s been all over the world and has been an ambassador for Beyond Blue,” he said.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have someone of her calibre come along.

“It’s going to be a pretty simple night, but hopefully the powerful message can get out there.

“Hopefully people bring some cool cars and bikes along for us to look at beforehand, and then we can basically just sit down and have a bit of a chat, and that’ll be about it.”

Mr Clark said he understood that everyone had battles going on from time to time.

“I’ve lost a lot of mates over the last 10 years, and it doesn’t leave you,” he said.

“I just want people to think, hey, there is another way forward. There’s always another option. It’s okay to not be okay. We’re all human, we’re all vulnerable.”

Mr Clark said everyone was welcome at the event.

“If you’re worried about a bloke, or a little bloke, or a brother, or uncle, or anything like that, absolutely come along. That’s the whole point of it all,” he said.

“Hopefully we can put on a good night and people can come along and have a good time and get something out of it.

“Poor mental health is definitely not good for our community, and the devastating effects that it leaves behind is pretty immeasurable really.”

Mr Clark encouraged people to book for catering purposes via www.trybooking.com/DHFZZ.

• Horsham Neighbourhood House is also hosting an International Men’s Day event, from 5.30pm on November 19. Guest speakers will be followed by a barbecue. 

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