2020 has ticked over the halfway mark, and many are wondering, "what's next?"
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From the brutal bushfires, to the lock down COVID pandemic, people are struggling and may need a lending ear.
One Highlands based group is aiming to help the men and boys of the area with their mental health, and are here to lend a helping hand.
Beginning in 2019, The Man Walk Bowral gather twice a week and walk around the Highlands, discussing what ails them in that moment of time.
Leader of the gang and Bowral leg spokesperson, Ash Druery has seen the movement rapidly grow since its inception.
"We began the Man Walk in August, 2019," Druery said.
"Since then it has grown massively. There is a huge following within the Southern Highlands.
"It's not even just men embracing it. I've seen everyone really getting behind it, especially on social media and in the media itself.
"Community wise, it's really taking off."
It's a great way for men, not just of the Highlands, but Australia as a country to get up in the morning, and shed yesterday's woes away.
COVID has hindered 2020 around the world, and The Man Walk was no different, but it will overcome it and Druery never gave up on his cause.
"The Man Walk has definitely grown around the country," Druery said.
"We've had such a good following here in the Highlands early on, but once COVID hit, it did drop our numbers off.
"It's kind of like starting all over again. But, that's not a bad thing. It's just another one of those learning lessons that we can learn from.
"We shut down for eight weeks due to the COVID pandemic and the walks were officially postponed.
"I still showed up each week, every Tuesday and Thursday just in case somebody showed up that needed me to be there for them.
"I continued my commitment to the cause.
"It was surprising because there were several men who had just started walking and the changes they had made in the short amount of time, were continuing to do that outside of the walks.
"That's the importance of the Man Walk.
"You turn up, walking or even being in a big group may not be your thing, but you enjoy the aspect of changing your daily routine, getting a positive mind frame, that's a win in itself."
"Many of the boys continued to walk and push themselves through these hard times and it was great to see."
Even with the struggles of 2020, The Man Walk is still kicking goals and gaining attention.
"We won a NSW Men's Health forum award, for best men's mental health group," Druery said.
"Since that award, there's another 12 walks about to start up around the country.
"We will be featured on the television show The Living Room. It will feature the Man Walk and also my road back to recovery.
"That will feature in November during Men's Health month.
"Right now, we're just trying to build one another back up from the unfortunate past six months we've had here in the Highlands."
I still showed up each week, every Tuesday and Thursday just in case somebody showed up that needed me to be there for them.
- Ash Druery.
For any of the Highland males that need to get out of the rut that 2020 may have put them in and get whatever they need off their chest, the walks will be available.
"We still start off at Bowral Pool, every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:45 am," Druery said.
"We had a nice big group of 18 men last time around. Also for the guys who can't make it to Bowral in those times, we're looking at changing some of the walks up.
"We've had interest from some of the guys in the Southern Villages, Bundanoon and Exeter. They went through the fires and trying to do something for them is really high on our list.
"I've been in contact with Man Walk HQ and it's definitely in the pipeline. We'll hopefully maybe get it changed from the Man Walk Bowral, to the Highlands.
"It would be great to grow as one and develop a whole bunch of different walks."
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