Mary O’Brien wins Queensland 2020 Men’s Health Award
Mary O’Brien, founder of Are You Bogged Mate? has taken out the 2020 Men’s Health Award for Queensland.
Mary was selected from a quality list of shortlisted nominations including:
Joshua Quarmby, Blokepedia (Local Men’s Hero Award)
Sam Parker, Grab Life By The Balls (Local Men’s Hero Award)
Lachlan Stuart, The Man That Can (Local Men’s Hero Award)
Justin Geange, MATES in Construction (Best Men’s Lived Experience Speaker)
Camping on Country (Best Men’s Group or Program)
TOMNET, The Older Men’s Network (Best Men’s Group or Program)
Deadly Choices (Significant Response to COVID-19)
More than 5000 people across Australia voted for the 2020 Men’s Health Awards. The National winners for each category will be decided by a judging panel from the Australian Men’s Health Forum and announced on Friday 19 June via Men’s Health Connected in a special event to celebrate all finalists during Men’s Health Week.
Mary O’Brien is a rural women living in the Darling Downs area of Queensland.
Her career in the rural sector has given her a deep respect for country blokes, and more importantly, the ability to effectively communicate and engage with them.
Rural men are a unique demographic, they face complex issues and they require a tailored approach. Mary founded ‘Are You Bogged Mate?’ to bridge the gap between mental health/suicide prevention services and men. The purpose of ‘Are You Bogged Mate?’ is to reach rural men in their comfort zone (usually in their sheds) and speak to them in a language they understand.
Mary travels to all parts of Australia talking to groups of rural men about mental health in a new, distinctive, and direct way. Men have frequently told her that she ‘speaks bloke’.
Find out more about Are You Bogged Mate?
Mary is also shortlisted for a National Award for Women Working in Men’s Health.
There are five categories in this year’s national awards.
Local Men's Health Hero Award 2020
This award is for an individual, male or female, who has made a significant difference by taking action to improve the lives and health of men and boys at a local level.
VIEW THE SHORTLISTED NOMINATIONS
Best Men's Lived Experience Speaker 2020
The award is open to any man who has helped improve the lives and health of men and boys by sharing his own personal health story as a lived experience speaker or consumer health advocate.
VIEW THE SHORTLISTED NOMINATIONS
Best Men's Group or Program Award 2020
The award for Best Men's Group or Men's Program Award 2020 is open to any men's health group, large or small, who stands out for the way they are working to create a healthier future for men and boys.
VIEW THE SHORTLISTED NOMINATIONS
Women Working in Men’s Health Award
The award is open to women (or groups of women) working in the men’s health sector, who have made a signification contribution to improving the lives and health of men and boys.
VIEW THE SHORTLISTED NOMINATIONS
Significant Response to COVID-19
This award is for any individual, group or program that has responded effectively to the impact of COVID-19 on the lives and health of men and boys.
VIEW THE SHORTLISTED NOMINATIONS
The National Award winners are selected by panelists from the Australian Men's Health Forum.
The State and Territory Health Awards are selected by Popular Choice. The winners are:
The Man Walk wins NSW 2020 Men's Health Award
Pip Seldon wins ACT 2020 Men's Health Award
The Tough Guy Book Club wins Victoria 2020 Men's Health Award
Mitch McPherson wins Tasmania 2020 Men's Health Award
Jo Milios wins WA 2020 Men's Health Award