Grab Life by the Balls: How One Man Turned Mateship into a Movement
When Sam Parker took the stage at the National Men’s Health Gathering on Day 1, there was no slick PowerPoint or scripted speech. Just a man, a story, and a mission that began with a cricket bat, a newborn son, and a deep sense that something wasn’t right for Australian men.
Nine or ten years ago, Parker — then a chiropractor on the Sunshine Coast — stumbled across a statistic that stopped him in his tracks: six out of every eight suicides in Australia were men. “There are different ways we can all go about shaking the same tree,” he said, recalling that moment. For him, it sparked a shift from spinal adjustments to something much deeper — adjusting the way men connect, communicate, and care for themselves.
Finding mateship again
Parker said he’d always had plenty of mates growing up, but found it harder to build real connections later in life. “There just wasn’t a lot out there for men to engage in,” he said. So, in 2016, he did something simple — he invited a few blokes out for what he later called Bros, Burgers and Brews.
He posted the idea on Facebook, and it grew faster than he expected. Soon the casual catch-ups evolved into something more meaningful. “We weren’t really sure what we were doing — we were just hanging out and talking shit,” he said with a grin. But behind the laughter and banter was something powerful: men opening up, forming bonds, and feeling less alone.
The group soon rebranded as Grab Life by the Balls, a name that captured their bold, cheeky approach to serious issues.
The message became personal when his son Jackson — “Jacko” — was born. Parker was about 18 months into fatherhood when the cracks began to show. “I wasn’t sleeping much, I was stressed about what it meant to be a good dad,” he said. “Where was my Land Cruiser? My Bali holiday? I didn’t feel good enough.”
It was a raw moment of vulnerability — the kind of thing he now encourages men to talk about more openly. “I started to wonder, what would Jacko’s life be like without a dad?” he said quietly. That question, more than any statistic or business plan, became his reason. “Jacko is now eight. He’s my why.”
Growing a grassroots movement
What began as a few casual meetups has evolved into a national movement connecting men across Australia. Grab Life by the Balls now hosts events and conversations everywhere from local cafes to national campaigns, including the “Biggest BBQ Ever” on Father’s Day — an idea designed to “ignite conversations, celebrate mateship, raise awareness about men’s mental health, and set records for connection.”
“We organically started growing grassroots communities,” Parker said. “And as we evolved, it became clear that situational distress — not weakness — was underpinning a lot of male suicide.” Over time, one theme kept reappearing in every story, every conversation, every gathering: social connection.
“That’s where we decided to focus,” Parker said. “Our purpose is to connect one million boys and men across Australia.”
Parker’s message isn’t wrapped in jargon or psychology — it’s built on shared humanity.
Through that simplicity, Grab Life by the Balls has tapped into something profound — the idea that small, everyday moments of connection can literally save lives. Whether it’s a barbecue, a walk, or a conversation over a coffee, it’s about showing up — for yourself and for your mates.
Sam Parker shared his story as part of a Men’s Sector Showcase with Brave Brother Founder David Facer, Billy Beggs from the Penrith Men’s Walk and Talk, and Tim Hewson – founder of Mongrels Men.