Freemasons Foundation Victoria Ltd Boosts Think Pink Supporting Blokes in Regional & Country Victoria

Irene Hendel OAM, Founder and Patron of the Think Pink Foundation, said “the Supporting Blokes Program was developed by the Think Pink Living Centre in 2013 to support men – partners, adult sons, siblings, family, and friends who have direct supportive roles to women with breast cancer. The generous support of the Freemasons Foundation Victoria Limited will enable this innovative program to be available to other men supporting women after diagnosis of breast cancer who reside in Victorian regional and country areas.”

Don Reynolds, Grand Master of Freemasons Victoria said “Our sponsorship of the Supporting Blokes Program was in recognition of the many issues faced by partners and family members supporting partners with breast cancer.”

“Freemasons Victoria through Freemasons Foundation Victoria Limited has been a long term and significant supporter of the Think Pink Foundation for several years.

“The Men’s Shed, with 27,000 members across Victoria and 329 Sheds, has become one of Victoria’s most important organisations providing both men and women the opportunity to establish social connections at local levels and to participate in wider community health and charitable programs across the State.

 Andrea Cannon, Think Pink’s Senior Breast Care Nurse said the new program aimed to extend the reach of the current Supporting Blokes Program based at the Living Centre in Melbourne which has been successfully operating over the last five years.

The new rural-based program will develop a mutual-aid, peer support program and delivery network and will continue to operate through local health, community networks in the years to come. This unique program also supports men to develop positive strategies for lasting self-care and resilience.

Ms Cannon said, “Whilst high quality medical care and diagnostic technology is generally available to metropolitan residents, this is not always the case in rural and outlying areas requiring some patients to travel to Melbourne or major cities to receive their treatment.  Practical and psychological support services relating to breast cancer are not as readily available in regional Victoria compared with metropolitan Melbourne.”

“There are even fewer resources available for males supporting women with breast cancer – many of whom are also very much affected by a diagnosis and many of whom are economically compelled to stay at home while patients receive their treatment.”

The grant will be applied to design, implement and evaluate a purpose-specific program of seminars, workshops and group counselling sessions in seven rural locations across Victoria including:

The Mornington Peninsula

Eastern Gippsland (Bairnsdale)

Inner Gippsland (Warragul)

Goulburn Valley (Shepparton)

Central Highlands/Goldfields (Bendigo)

Inner Western District and Surf Coast (Geelong)

Outer Western District (Warrnambool)