Blokes grilled

MC Brian Paynter addresses a packed house during the Biggest Ever Blokes BBQ on Friday. 126902 Pictures: ROB CAREW

By RUSSELL BENNETT

Campaign prods men to get checked out…

IT WAS hilarious and it was awkward, but most of all it was potentially lifesaving.
The first Casey Cardinia Biggest Ever Blokes BBQ to raise money for the fight against prostate cancer was held at a packed Cardinia Cultural Centre last Friday afternoon.
It is set to become an annual event – shining a crucial spotlight on a disease which affects about 120,000 Australian men.
The good news is that, compared with other cancers, prostate cancer has one of the highest five-year survival rates – about 92 per cent – after diagnosis.
That’s what makes early detection so crucial.
Casey Cardinia Biggest Ever Blokes BBQ organising committee chairman and Gazette editor Garry Howe explained that the events were started six years ago in Shepparton by newspaperman Chris McPherson after he had his own run-in with prostate cancer.
A host of other newspaper companies have since followed suit and there are now about a dozen events held across the state.
Star News Group, which publishes the Gazette, is patron sponsor of the Casey Cardinia event.
Mr Howe said that the six Shepparton lunches alone have raised $750,000 in the years since and last month that committee announced it had entered into a partnership with Goulburn Valley Health to fund a full-time prostate cancer nurse in the region for the next three years – a commitment of $300,000.
“Wouldn’t it be great if, in five or six years’ time, we were able to get up here and announce a similar initiative for this community?” Mr Howe said.
One in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer by the age of 75 and one in five by 85.
Monash Medical Research scientist Renae Taylor told the crowd that she goes to work every day with the specific purpose of finding a cure for prostate cancer.
All money raised from the Blokes BBQ went towards the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia’s Victorian branch to channel into research and awareness initiatives.
Brian Paynter hosted the function, which was attended by everyone from local footy players, to politicians and other prominent business identities.

Read more, pages 24-25 of this week’s Pakenham Gazette.