We will have to wait a little longer for Ulladulla region's first man walk.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The first walk was to be held tomorrow Friday, July 17 from the Mollymook Surf Club starting at 6.30am but COVID-19 fears means it won't be held.
The walk and the reasons behind it are still important.
Julian Watling took on the role is the local man walk ambassador and is looking forward to the first walk - which maybe Friday July 24.
A friend told him about the Kiama Man Walk and after COVID-19 and the bushfires, Julian decided it was needed in the Ulladulla area.
"The idea is to walk for 45 minutes to an hour and it's really just to provide a place for blokes to connect and talk about stuff," he said.
There is no cost and it's free to attend.
"I am very much looking forward to it," he said.
"I hope we get a few guys at the walk and that they make a few connections in the community.
"Just turn up and I will be there at 6.30am with bells on.
"Please come along - tell your friends, family and anyone else who needs it."
Read More:
Julian said the walkers may find they can relate to what the other blokes had been facing.
"There are a lot of different reasons why someone might need someone to talk to," Julian said.
"As blokes we are tough, we are supposed to man up, be tough and not talk about stuff. You don't cry and you just get up, brush it off and keep going is another thing we are taught but that is not helpful."
Julian added putting up your hand to ask for help does not make a lesser of a man.
He does not know how many men will turn up for the first walk.
"I will walk on my own if I have to but it's one of those things where smaller groups can be more intimate," he said.
"It's about creating that web - that framework to create connections."
Julian said the walk will be friendly and non-judgmental.
"You don't have to talk if you don't want to and you may prefer to just listen. It's just about being with other blokes," he said.
For more information go to The Man Walk Mollymook page on Facebook or the main Men Walk site also on Facebook and website here.
Julian's working background is in the behavioural issues area and in his career has seen how healing a friendly chat can be.
For personal reasons he has been on leave from his job and has had his own mental health issues.
He started a walking group, before the local Man Walk idea was proposed, just to help himself.
Julian's first walking group called TimeLimit Rucking Club and group members walk with a pack and it's open to everyone - not just men.
"When I had mental health issues myself I realised how isolated you can be, so started the group up to help myself," he said.
He started the rucking group in February 2018 and around 30 people, men, women, kids and dogs, took part.
Julian can also be connected on the TimeLimit page on Facebook.