A new chapter of connection and conversation for local men is set to begin in Tamworth next month, with The Men’s Table hosting a special “Entree” event aimed at establishing a new local Table in the region.
The Men’s Table is a national charity that brings together groups of 10 to 12 men once a month for a meal, creating a safe, supportive environment where men can openly share the highs and lows of life.
Regional Host for New England, Hunter, Mid North and Coffs Coast, Dave Robinson, said the organisation is about creating meaningful connections in a world where many men have become increasingly isolated.
“I think in general, men have kind of lost connection,” Robinson said.
“Guys tend to get busy doing work and life, and gradually those connections fade away. Then somewhere around their late 30s or 40s, issues come up – career problems, business issues, relationship breakdowns – and all of a sudden they realise they’ve got no one to call on.”
Robinson’s own journey with The Men’s Table began after the breakdown of his 19-year marriage in 2010.
“I fell into a deep, dark hole,” he said.
“I was diagnosed with depression and started seeing therapists. Part of that journey was getting involved in men’s groups, and I saw the benefit not only for myself, but for other men too.”
That experience eventually led him to The Men’s Table four and a half years ago, where he joined what was then known as MT42. The organisation is now approaching its 300th Table nationally.
Founded in Sydney in 2011, The Men’s Table has steadily expanded across Australia, including multiple groups throughout regional NSW.
“There’s Armidale, Inverell, Cessnock, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Hallidays Point, Forster, Taree, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour,” Robinson said.
“It really is growing because there’s clearly a need for it.”
The upcoming Tamworth event is being described as a “reset” for the city after previous Tables eventually wound down due to dwindling numbers and limited resources.
“This table, which will be known as Tamworth 2, will effectively be a fresh start,” Robinson said.
The Entree event, to be held at the Tamworth Services Club on Monday, June 15, is designed as a relaxed introduction for men curious about the concept.
“It’s a taster,” Robinson explained.
“We’ll sit down over a meal, explain what we’re about, answer questions and just give men a feel for how it works.”
Unlike traditional social settings, The Men’s Table focuses on structured, uninterrupted conversation and listening without judgment or advice-giving.
“One of the key things with our fundamentals is that there’s no fixing,” Robinson said.
“Guys typically want to jump in and say, ‘Have you tried this?’ or ‘You should do that’. But what we’re really about is providing a safe space where men can share from the heart and be listened to.”
The model has proven transformative for many men, Robinson said, including some who initially struggled to even speak at meetings.
“One guy in my own Table sat there for six or eight months saying he had nothing to share,” he said.
“Then eventually he realised he did have things he wanted to talk about.”
Robinson said another man who attended after a suicide attempt experienced a profound change through the group.
“To see him go from sitting slouched down in a chair not wanting to be noticed, to showing up engaged and talking about the positives in his life – that’s really powerful.”
While conversations around men’s mental health have improved in recent years, Robinson believes regional communities still face unique challenges.
“Suicide rates in regional areas are higher than average,” he said.
“My personal view is that the same attitudes that stop men from engaging in initiatives like ours are the same attitudes driving those statistics … that stoic mentality of having to just ‘man up’.”
Interestingly, Robinson said many men attend after encouragement from partners, family members or friends.
“Women get what we’re about straight away,” he said.
“About 40 per cent of men come to a Table because a woman in their life encouraged them to.”
For men who are hesitant to attend, Robinson said nerves are completely normal.
“He’s not on his own,” he said.
“There’s absolutely no pressure and no judgment about coming to an Entree event. However, you rock up, that’s okay.”
The Tamworth 2 Entree will be held on Monday, June 15, from 6.30 pm to 9 pm at Tamworth Services Club. Tickets are $37.40 and include a meal.
More information and tickets are available via Humanitix or through The Men’s Table.
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