Promoting men’s health and raising awareness of prostate cancer was the focus of Bairnsdale’s 10th East Gippsland’s Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch, which was held at Cremin Hall on Friday.

Over 300 men from all over East Gippsland attended including the Mallacoota big boys led by Paul Preston.

The event this year raised over $50,000 on the day according to East Gippsland’s Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch treasurer, Matt Lenartowicz, with $35,000 going towards funding Bairnsdale’s prostate    cancer nurse on an annual basis.

The balance of this year’s funds will be specially directed to the local on the ground Rotary Fireaid appeal, where all funds go directly to fire-affected ratepayers, headed up by Pearl Findlay-James.

Every year the event has guest speakers from all walks of life, all of them refer quietly to men’s health during their presentations.

This year, three retired characters of AFL, Sam Kekovich, Liam Pickering and Scott Cummings addressed the men of East Gippsland during the day.

Melbourne man, Des Dowling, was the MC and strung the event together with his professional wit and humour.

According to event treasurer, Mr Lenartowicz, the after event noises were very positive about the day in general.

“The big day was a great day for the local community, to have a great laugh and enjoy one of the best blokes get togethers each year in East Gippsland,” he said.

“Quoting the words of leading Melbourne community leader and positive critic, Father Bob Maquire, events like the East Gippsland’s Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch are art and culture and community, which many people may never understand.”

IMAGE: East Gippsland’s Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch was this year attended by brother of the founder of the East Gippsland’s Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch (Chris McPherson dec.), movement across Victoria Paul McPherson formally of Shepparton, chief executive officer of Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Professor Jeff Dunn AO, of Sydney, East Gippsland Shire Council mayor, Cr John White, Bairnsdale’s prostate cancer nurse, Ashley Leach, and Southern Regional manager of Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA), John Strachan, of Melbourne. Probably the most outstanding performance for the day was the arrival of Jeff Dunn who drove overnight from Sydney after a PCFA board meeting to attend the event on Friday. K184-1098