A Hobart men’s group that started with 12 blokes at a cafe has expanded to a second location on the eastern shore.
Banjo’s Banter 4 Blokes, founded by construction worker Chris Kilpatrick, will hold its first session at Banjo’s Bakery Cafe in Lindisfarne on Wednesday from 6:30am to 7:30am.
The group will now alternate each Wednesday between Lindisfarne and its original home at Banjo’s in Lenah Valley, giving men a weekly gathering instead of the previous fortnightly meetups.
Kilpatrick started the group after watching too many mates struggle in silence.
“It’s always been put down for men to kinda just grit their teeth and show up and just get on with it and not really talk about it,” he told Pulse previously.
“I’m in the construction industry and suicide’s really prevalent in the construction industry.”
What began with 12 men has grown to around 30 at each session, with coffee and food covered by Kilpatrick’s business and the Banjo’s franchise owner so cost is never a barrier.
The group has also brought in guest speakers, including former St Kilda footballer Steven Baker, who spoke about losing close mate Shane Warne and falling into alcohol and drugs.
Kilpatrick said the conversations had shifted over time from surface-level chat to something deeper.
“You create this space and you consistently show up every fortnight and the guys that are coming back in are beginning to have real conversations and that’s what it’s about,” he said.
Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley welcomed the expansion to the eastern shore.
“This is for every bloke, as it’s an opportunity for men to get together, share some real conversations and support one another,” Blomeley said.
Organisers have stressed there is no pressure, no judgement and no agenda.
Attendees do not need to be going through a tough time to show up.
More information is available by searching Banjo’s Banter 4 Blokes on Facebook.
