Gathering Men – On Country – Autumn 2023

RE-IMAGINING HEALTHY MASCULINITY

Gathering Men, On Country, begins on a Friday afternoon running through until Sunday late afternoon. 2 nights & 3 days. Enabling us to slow right down, connect & travel deep together.

Together, we’re reimagining what it takes to be a healthy man. Together, we’re challenging the stereotypes around men’s mental health & masculinity. Redefining how emotionally balanced men truly connect. Now’s our time. We warmly welcome all who identify as men, 21 years of age & over, from all walks of life & persuasions to this gathering. We encourage diversity & inclusiveness in all its precious forms.

• Connection to ourselves as individual men.
• Connection to one another in a circle of men.
• Connection to Mother Earth & the beautiful Djaara – Dja-Dja Wurrung Country on which we meet.
• Connection to & respect for Djaara First Nations Peoples Country, Culture, Lore & wisdom.
• Connection to the people & communities we love most in our lives

Gathering Men is all about personal accountability, authenticity, vulnerability & brotherhood. What we have crafted together is a rare opportunity to spend quality time amongst good men. Away from the demands of everyday life. Providing us all with the space to slow right down. The time to breathe all the way in. And to slowly let it out. To tread a little lighter with ourselves & explore a lot deeper too.

• How am I honestly feeling right now?
• What do I love about my life? What is actually serving me that I might nurture & grow?
• What is getting in the way of me and causing disconnection & dis-ease?
• What might I need to set free?

Late arrivals &/or early departures work against the natural flow of the gathering.

All men wishing to join us should be available for the entire duration of the gathering. If this is genuinely not possible for you, please discuss it with Andrew or Brett prior to the event.

Together, we move out of our heads & back into our hearts. Creating a simple, safe place to share our stories. A space to listen and learn deeply from one another.

VALUE / LIMITED NUMBERS

At this gathering, we are inviting men to invest in themselves, the gathering itself & the land upon which we meet. Your investment secures your place at our gathering. It honours some of our time & energy spent creating, crafting, catering (6 meals) & delivering the gathering. It acknowledges the energy that our First Nations Brothers & Uncles bring to this space when in attendance. It also contributes to the development of our programs. Your attendance is confirmed once your ticket is purchased.
Experience tells us that less is often more. We like to keep our gatherings safe, focused & intimate. Spaces are strictly limited.

The event will proceed regardless of the final numbers. Your attendance is locked in once you have purchased your ticket. See below.

TICKETS

Limited tickets are now released & on sale for Gathering Men • On-Country • Spring 2022. First in best dressed. As at previous gatherings, we will, at our discretion, offer a discounted rate for up to 2 men wishing to attend who are experiencing genuine financial difficulty. These tickets are made possible by men at previous gatherings who have chosen to pledge & pay forward a donation in kind. All pledges & donations towards our work are gratefully accepted.

CANCELLATIONS / REFUNDS

Cancellations more than 7 days out from the gathering: 50% of the full fee paid is forfeited with the balance refunded. 100% of the fee paid is transferable for use at another Gathering Men Men’s Gathering.

Cancellations less than 7 days out from the gathering: 50% of the full fee paid is forfeited with the balance refunded. 50% of the fee paid is transferable for use at another Gathering Men Men’s Gathering. With reason, no shows, early departures or late arrival, 100% of the applicable fee paid is forfeited.

LOCATION / DIRECTIONS

tanderrum, 181 Lithia Lane, Shepherds Flat, VIC 3461

https://goo.gl/maps/eya4Cn33NqE2Shepherds Flat

For those of you visiting tanderrum for the first time, the easiest way from Melbourne is this. Over the Westgate Bridge, exit at the Western Ring Road, then on to the Western Freeway. Exit onto Ballan-Daylesford Rd (C141) & head up to Daylesford. Right at the Howe St / Raglan St round-about then a left up at the Midland Hwy. Turn left into Carroll’s Lane off the Midland Highway just after passing Lalgambook (Mt. Franklin). Left into Lithia Lane. Travel about 1.65km, past the large holding dam on the left. Head down through a little dip in the road then enter the first driveway on left with a stone wall entrance. Look for the signs that say tanderrum & “181”. Follow the driveway till you arrive at the shed. Park. Turn your phone off & put it in the glove box. Get out & breathe the rarified air. Carpooling is a fine idea.

WHAT TO BRING

We will all be camping under the stars. Regardless of the weather. We will review & check in with you on the weather forecast during the week of the gathering. Please be prepared for all weather conditions. It can be warm during the day & extremely cool at night in the Central Highlands of Victoria.

Please come prepared. Bring clothes for both warm (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses etc) & cool/wet conditions (rain jacket, jumper, fleece, scarf, beanie, warm sox & boots, etc). Please bring a swag or tent, sleeping mattress, sleeping bag, extra blankets, pillow, torch, water bottle, folding chair, hammock, walking boots, bathers & towel, musical instruments, games & whatever else you feel to.

Note, we have a small number of high-quality fully enclosed tent-style double & single Southern Cross Canvas swags. Swags are available by request for the duration of the gathering for a cash hire fee of $50 for a roomy double & $40 for a comfortable single swag. If you would like to reserve a swag, pls contact Brett at 0414 827 556. Mattresses provided. Please bring your own fitted sheet, pillow & all required bedding.

WHAT NOT TO BRING

• Dogs / Pets
• Mobile Phones
• Alcohol
• Drugs
• Cigarettes / Vapes
• Coffee
• Processed sugars

CAMPING GEAR

Swag or tent, sleeping mattress, sleeping bag, extra blankets, pillow, torch, water bottle, folding chair, hammock, walking boots, bathers & towel, musical instruments, games & whatever else you feel to bring.

Note, we have a small number of high-quality fully enclosed tent-style double & single Southern Cross Canvas swags. Swags are available by request for the duration of the gathering for a cash hire fee of $50 for a roomy double & $40 for a comfortable single swag. If you would like to reserve a swag, pls contact Brett on 0414 827 556. Mattresses provided. Please bring your own fitted sheet, pillow & all required bedding.

CATERING

This event is fully catered in our bush kitchen. We will be catering for & providing up to 9 vegetarian meals and healthy snacks across the gathering. If you have any specific dietary requirements, please let us know well in advance. If you have any special food that you’d like to bring or share, please feel free to do so. We are blessed with fresh rainwater & mineral water on site. And composting toilets.

CONTACT US

We are very much looking forward to this gathering of men. If you have any questions, comments or thoughts, please connect with Brett Ellenport at 0414 827 556 or Andrew McSweeney at 0408 170 769
Let’s Stay Connected,

The Gathering Men Team

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