00:07H.I.M. Healthier Illawarra Men. Not to make sure that we're feeling healthier for ourselves but
00:13also across the community. On average an Aussie woman goes to see their doctor eight times a year
00:20for Australian men it is half that and when we turn up we do it with severe symptoms and we
00:26do
00:26it with late intervention. Today's lunch is about changing that. It's my great pleasure now to
00:31welcome Martin Whelan who was a young fellow we met through the Tomorrow Man project. Stand up if
00:37you have ever felt lonely in your life. Stand up if you have got a lot of love for your
00:43friends and
00:44family and people in your life. Stay standing if you wish you could tell them more often. Connection
00:51is something every human being needs yet something men too often go without. Every single day in
00:57Australia nine people make the heartbreaking decision that this life isn't for them. Seven
01:03of those nine are men. Those are fathers, sons, brothers, teammates and mates. Events like this
01:10don't just raise awareness they fund the services programs and researches that save lives.
01:18He is literally an Ashes hero, a charity champion and an icon of the game. Can you please welcome
01:23the great Ian Botham OBE. Mr Mandela came up put his arm on my shoulder he said you're my hero.
01:30I
01:30said are you sure you got the right man? And he said your stance against apartheid everything he said
01:36has been magnificent. At the end of it he said remember one thing sportsmen will break down more barriers
01:43than politicians will ever achieve.
01:55I was brave enough to say to the producers I want to talk about my friend who took his own
02:00life
02:01and everyone was just silent in the room we said we don't sort of do that you know we tell
02:05jokes we
02:06do sport we give away tickets we don't talk about that stuff and I said I think it's really important
02:11it's really important. Start these conversations of gravity I promise you it might save someone's life.
02:20You
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