One Nation MLC Sarah Game calls on community organisations to celebrate International Men’s Day

A first-term politician is calling on more South Australian organisations to rally behind International Men’s Day, lamenting that it has been overshadowed by its female-centred counterpart.

One Nation’s Sarah Game has called on more South Australian organisations to celebrate International Men’s Day after a “disappointing” showing from the community last year.

The state upper house member said she is bringing back her panel event marking the celebration, after more than 150 people turned out in 2023 at Norwood Football Club.

One Nation’s Sarah Game MLC is ‘disappointed’ by the lack of support shown to International Men’s Day. Picture: Keryn Stevens

She told The Advertiser that while she received many invitations for International Women’s Day celebrations on March 8, there were none forthcoming for its male counterpart.

“I was invited to so many events – there was Government House, Adelaide Oval, I couldn’t even go to them all, and there was nothing really out there for International Men’s Day,” Ms Game told The Advertiser.

“I think it’s interesting and disappointing that we didn’t have any events celebrating men and their achievements in that way.”

Ms Game said speakers at this year’s “non-political” event, to be held on November 19, included ex-cop and shooting survivor Derrick McManus, SA’s former chief entrepreneur Jim Whalley, and Hutt St Centre chief executive Chris Burns.

One Nation MLC Sarah Game (left) with party leader Pauline Hanson at Colonel Light's Lookout, shortly after the former’s 2022 state election victory. Picture: Supplied

She said while proceeds from the event will go to Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation, she mainly wished to shine a light on “positive male role models”, which is the official 2024 theme.

“This should be about celebrating male role models because that’s what International Women’s Day is about – it’s not about women and their problems, it is actually a celebration of women and their role in society,” Ms Game said.

“I think the narrative around men is currently just, ‘Do better, be better,’ and of course that messaging is around domestic violence and it’s needed. But you have to have a holistic approach to these things and realise that men contribute an enormous amount to society and that should be celebrated.”

Last year, the first-term MLC called on the establishment of a Minister for Men to “ensure that men’s mental health receives the focused attention it deserves within the government framework,” according to her website.