In a world that rarely slows down, Base Five is quietly building something powerful in Tamworth: a space where people can reconnect with their bodies, regulate stress, and have the kinds of conversations that don’t often happen in everyday life.
Founded by Tamworth local Dale McDonald, Base Five is grounded in proactive wellbeing, blending movement, meditation, breathwork and honest connection to support both mental and physical health, with a particular focus on men.
“I’m Tamworth born and raised,” Dale said.
“I lived six years in Adelaide and four years in California, then came back home in 2020 with a mission to share the practices and insights that had served my wellbeing over many years of self-discovery and growth.”
That mission took shape in late 2020 with the launch of the Base Five Men’s Circle, a facilitated, structured gathering designed to bring blokes together for meaningful, conscious conversations. Now in its fifth year, the Men’s Circle runs fortnightly and has grown well beyond its original format.
“I started a Men’s Circle towards the end of 2020 to bring blokes together for conscious conversations using a structured, facilitated approach,” Dale said.
“Now in its fifth year, it’s also being taken into corporate settings, schools, and a Women’s Circle.”
At its heart, the Men’s Circle offers something many men don’t realise they’re missing: a safe, grounded environment to talk openly, listen deeply, and develop emotional awareness without judgement. For regional and rural communities, especially, that kind of space can be life-changing.
“It’s so needed in society at large, especially rural regions,” Dale said.
“I’m particularly passionate about helping others, especially blokes, access the power of the heart through meditation and breath.”
Meditation and breathwork have become a central pillar of Base Five’s offerings. Since 2022, Dale has been teaching a range of practical techniques designed to regulate the nervous system, improve focus, and build resilience.
“I’ve been teaching meditation and practical breathwork since 2022, sharing many different modalities and experiences with people on the spiritual path,” he said.
This work is supported by Dale’s extensive background in physical training. With close to 20 years in boxing and a decade of coaching, he brings a strong emphasis on discipline, mindset and embodied awareness. He is also an accredited yoga teacher, offering a distinctive style of yoga that combines movement, play, breath and meditation.
“It’s a pretty unique class,” Dale said, “and yoga for blokes is something I’m looking to kick off this year.”
Across all its offerings, Base Five is united by a simple philosophy: wellbeing doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective. Dale’s approach focuses on consistency, practicality and meeting people where they are.
“My focus is on proactive wellbeing, helping people regulate stress before it turns into burnout, injury, or illness,” he says.
One of his go-to tools is what he calls the “5-Minute Reset”, a short daily breathing practice designed to calm the nervous system and bring people back into their bodies.
“No need to overhaul your life,” Dale says. “A simple daily practice of five minutes of mindful breathing can reset your nervous system, improve energy, and sharpen focus. Consistency beats intensity.”
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