Eight hundred kilograms of meat, 8600 stubbies, 1260 bums — of mostly men — on seats.
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Those were some of the numbers MC Des Dowling listed to illustrate the scale of Shepparton’s annual Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch this year.
‘Biggest’ isn’t a term that’s used loosely; the lunch is exactly that.
So big, in fact, no more than the 130 tables at the sold-out event could be packed into the multipurpose pavilion at Shepparton Showgrounds on August 21.
The event raises funds to support local prostate and bowel cancer patients through funding three specialist nurses at Goulburn Valley Health.
Those nurses, prostate cancer nurses Nicole Lewis and Sonia Strachan and bowel cancer nurse Lyndon Morrison joined a panel at the Friday afternoon luncheon with two local men, Reg Hickey and David Greenwood, who’ve battled with each of the cancers.
“Every man in this room is someone’s favourite person; someone’s dad, someone’s partner, someone’s mate,” Ms Lewis told the crowd.
“If one conversation leads to just one GP appointment and that appointment leads to one early diagnosis, then today has changed a lot, and that is why we are here.”
Ms Strachan spoke of the importance of men discussing their health.
She thanked those who’d spoken at past events ahead of this year’s speakers, Mr Greenwood and Mr Hickey.
“Mick Vandermeer, who’s in this room ... after he spoke at this lunch, two of his mates went and got tested and both were diagnosed with prostate cancer,” she said.
“Two lives have potentially been changed because one man was willing to share his story, and that is exactly what we want.
“We want awareness, we want men to know their risks, we want men to get checked, and most importantly, we want cancers detected early because early detection saves lives.”
Ms Strachan introduced Mr Greenwood, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer at 27 after initially being told nothing was wrong with him.
He knew within himself there was, so he spent a year of advocating for his own health, which eventually resulted in his earlier-missed diagnosis.
“Cancer doesn't discriminate, doesn’t care who you are, what you are, how fit you are; it will get you and it got me and it stuffs you up in every way, mentally, physically, emotionally,” Mr Greenwood said.
“The worst part of it is I have two kids, a boy and a girl, and the journey was long.
“So for everyone here, everyone young, guys, go get it tested.”
Mr Hickey took to the microphone after Mr Greenwood, to share his story.
In contrast to Mr Greenwood, he had no symptoms; his prostate cancer diagnosis came unexpectedly when he visited a doctor about a suspected insect bite, which had nothing to do with the cancer.
Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch event chair Travis Ryan, GV Health chief executive Matt Sharp and GV Health Foundation chair Stephen Merrylees also addressed the room during the lunch.
A show of hands indicated that around a third of attendees knew someone — friends, family or themselves — who’d had to travel to Melbourne for cancer treatment at some stage.
The speakers all highlighted the need and the current push to get government funding for stage two of a fully integrated cancer centre in Shepparton, which the foundation is on a mission to raise $5 million towards from the local community in order to send a strong message to decision-makers.
After lunch was served by several local Rotary clubs, guests were entertained by keynote speaker, ex-AFL Carlton player and now radio host Brendan Fevola, with actor, musician and comedian Marty Fields providing comic relief.
A goods and services auction to round out the day raised $120,000 alone, with figures from the raffle, lunch and other contributions to be finalised in the coming weeks.
Take a look at some of our photographer Rechelle Zammit’s pictures from the event.