Lock men gather for dinner and speakers

Guest speakers Michael Williams of Fat Farmers and Lock farmer Andrew Polkinghorne with Lock Medical Centre Health Advisory Committee chairman Michael Zacher at the Lock Men’s Health night. (Jaime Siviour)

A rainy Thursday night saw 30 guys assemble at Lock Sports Centre for the Lock Medical Centre health advisory committee’s men’s health night.

Those attending enjoyed a three-course dinner and heard from guest speakers Michael Williams and Andrew Polkinghorne.

Michael, Fat Farmers’ community engagement manager, spoke on the value of getting mates together for organised exercise and good mental health.

The group started on Yorke Peninsula almost 15 years ago, when three Maitland farmers started going to the gym together.

There are now groups throughout South Australia and Fat Farmers recently joined forces with Elders to promote physical and mental wellbeing in regional areas.

Lock farmer Andrew spoke on his knee replacement journey.

He endured many operations, replacements and extensive hospital stays, and said a strong positive attitude was needed to get through it.

Health Advisory Committee chairman Michael Zacher said while all that was going on Andrew was awarded a Churchill Fellowship grant to further investigate liquid fertiliser usage.

“Whilst carrying a ‘plastic knee’, he travelled overseas to the United States, Canada and Europe studying farming systems that employ the latest technology in this field,” Michael said.

The committee supplied a free three-course dinner thanks to sponsors Flinders Ports, Elliston District Council, Mentally Fit EP, Lock Pharmacy, Quality Wool, Elders, Emmetts and Lock and Districts Community Sports Club.