Growing a mo in attempts to prevent men dying too young

The men of the southwest are banding together to support Movember this month.

MO TOWN: Roma Men's Shed president Michael Stuhmcke, The Commonwealth Hotel owner Ben Cannon and musicians Stephen Brown and Nathan Moody. Picture: James Liveris

MEN of the southwest have put down their razor blades this November in a bid to address the elephant in the room.

There are a lot of people doing it tough in this drought and with the state of men's health in crisis, the blokes of this region are banding together to support Movember to stop men dying too young.

According to a 2016 report from the Griffith University's Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, the suicide rate among men in the southwest and Darling Downs region sits at 75 per cent, much higher than the state figure.

In Roma, Nathan Moody and Stephen Brown, who make up the Shot Foxes Band, will be hosting a Show Us Your Mo event with live music and a spit roast at The Commonwealth Hotel on Friday, with all proceeds being donated to the cause.

Mr Moody said this was their first time doing Movember, but they hoped to turn into a yearly thing.

"Just in general out here, suicide and depression is bloody bad so this event will be about awareness, and what better place to make people aware than the pub - this is our hospital,” he said.

"It's definitely the elephant in the room, men's health out here.

"Whether it's young men, old men, Aboriginal men, it doesn't matter, it's always the elephant in the room and it doesn't get spoken about.

"There is a lot of external pressure in the bush for blokes, and we're the ones that tend to bottle it up so it's important to reiterate to people that it's okay to talk about it and there are people to talk to.”

Charleville Mulga Mo Bros. Picture: Leonie Eckle

Charleville Mulga Mo Bros, a group of eight old blokes who cycle together, have raised more than $3800 in support of their moustache efforts.

Team member Robert Eckle said as most of the members were getting to their 50s it was time to start thinking about their health.

"There seems to be a lot more suicides than what we used to get, and obviously there's the prostate and other issues with men's health,” he said.

"And that's why our cycling group is such a good thing.

"We get out and all have a go at each other and pull the piss out of each other but it's more of a mateship release and that's why we went for this Movember.

"So we all double dared each other to do the Movember and it's sort of gone a little bit mad.

"We were hoping to raise $1000 between the lot of us, but we are well into the $3800 mark going into the 4000.”

Mr Eckle said despite being called names like Ivan Milat since growing the moustache, it had been a bit of fun.

"We're overwhelmed with the response we've got, we were not expecting it, it's been excellent,” he said.

"The best bit is that it's going to a really good cause.”

The Maranoa Mechanical team with a progress update on their moustaches. Picture: Maranoa Mechanical

In St George, the Maranoa Mechanical team have put the razors down and are hoping to raise $500.

Team member Will Salmon said it was their second time electing to support Movember.

"Most of us were on training wheels last year, but we are veterans now,” he said.

"It's for a good cause, and it attracts attention, which is a good thing because it's surprising how many people don't know what Movember is all about.

"It's important because we blokes don't like to talk usually and there is nothing like a mo to break the ice.”

Originally published as Growing a mo in attempts to prevent men dying too young