Ivan Feshchenko from Te Kawa, discussed heart health with Hamilton based Alina Jose from the Heart Foundation.
They were regaled with a Te Awamutu born All Black’s story of playing Elephant Polo in northern Thailand and fed a diet of sizzled sausages and health tips.
More than 60 people attended the inaugural Menz Shed health expo in Te Awamutu’s Baptist Church on Saturday.
And aside from the stories and food, the consistent message was to communicate.
Te Awamutu born All Black Steve Gordon, 57, asked the gathering “how many adventures start with g’day?”
“It’s all about getting conversations started, participating, having adventures – and don’t forget about your mate stuck in the lounge watching television. The onus is on us to get out.”
The expo was a step into the unknown for the Te Awamutu branch and it landed on firm ground. So much so that national chairman David Broadhead said he would be keen to see it run by Menz Sheds all over the county.
The event featured an expo with health group representatives available to discuss issues, and a sit down session for a little over an hour where invited speakers shared information and health tips.
There were speakers on the subjects of heart health, strokes, prostate cancer, diabetes and dementia.
Several explained that their organisations relied on volunteers and had gone through restructures.
Te Awamutu branch head Richard Cato, concentrating on the communication theme told how he has been discussing writing the memoirs of Steve Gordon’s father Brian.
Gordon senior had subsequently been admitted to hospital in January 2023 after becoming unwell and told Cato the staff were wonderful – “but I just want to talk to a man”.
Gordon senior died a couple of months later aged 82 and Cato said he had never forgotten his words.
Cambridge’s Ron Greenwood summed things up nicely by encouraging men to get regular health checks.
“Get a warrant of fitness – we take our cars in and neglect ourselves.”
