WHAT began in September 2021 as a simple idea to encourage men to get out of the house and move has grown into a thriving community of connection, conversation, and camaraderie. 

The Men’s Walk and Talk Hervey Bay, founded by Shane Bradbury, has now clocked up nearly 450 group walks and more than 7,000 individual participations.

“The goal was always to get people doing a bit of exercise, looking after their mental and physical health,” Shane said. “It’s become a lot more of a social circle than I first expected, and that’s a good thing.”

The group walks twice a week, on Tuesday afternoons and on Thursday mornings, and new participants are welcomed regularly. 

Some have stayed the course since the beginning, including three members who have now completed over Two-hundred and fifty walks each.

There are no fitness tests, just an open invitation. 

“We have even got what we call the ‘slow coach group’ so that everyone, regardless of pace or ability, can feel comfortable,” Shane explained.

For some, the benefits go far beyond the steps they take. 

“A participant moved to town about a year ago. His wife had found her place in the community, but he was stuck at home,” Shane said. 

“He came along for a walk, connected straight away, and hasn’t missed one since. That’s what this is about.”

Beyond walking, the group now participates in team events like the Sunshine Coast’s Kokoda Challenge, monthly brunch catch-ups, and other social activities, creating new opportunities for engagement, especially for those with health limitations.

“I think the older we get, the easier it is to fall into isolation,” Shane said. 

“But being part of something, and being missed if you’re not there, that matters.”

The initiative has not only helped combat loneliness but also fostered a sense of belonging, purpose, and lasting friendships among its members.

It has quietly changed lives, bringing men together in a way that feels natural, easy, and powerfully supportive.

The Men’s Walk and Talk Hervey Bay meets outside the Surf Club on Tuesdays at 5:15pm and Thursdays at 6:00am.

New walkers are encouraged to come a few minutes early. 

More details are available at https://www.menswalkherveybay.com.au/

“It does the world good,” Shane said. 

“Seeing someone smile, knowing you helped them find their place, that’s what keeps the fire burning.”