NARRATOR: Nestled at the foot of the MacDonnell Ranges on the banks of the Finke River west of Alice Springs, lies the old Lutheran mission of Hermannsburg.

[Singing]

NARRATOR: These well-preserved buildings hide the impact western civilisation has had on Indigenous communities. [Horn] But here in Ntaria, a local initiative, the new Men’s Centre, is working to improve health in the community. Part of their strategy is this week’s footy carnival.

LLOYD SPENCER-NELSON: Over the weekend we’ll be playing eight teams…you know. This is important in showing a healthy lifestyle…no drugs involved you know. It’s about everyone enjoying themselves.

RALPH MALBUNKA: I’ve been a health worker and we thought we might start up a…men’s centre so we can reduce diabetes and overweight. And I was looking at some of our blokes who’ve been drinking too much and not getting support. First we seen only women getting jealous and I thought oh well I might talk to the council here for young blokes and older blokes.

NARRATOR: And what he told the council was devastating.

MALBUNKA: A lot of people are passing away…not even reaching 40…dying even as young as 15. That’s why we need to help our men live a longer life.

NARRATOR: Sobering facts that required immediate action like the establishment of this new gym at the men’s centre.

MERVYN RAGGETT: This is the gym for fitness.

MALBUNKA: Some of them are very big, obese, so we want to get them fit and healthy.

RAGGETT: And no body smokes in here it’s a no-no area.

NARRATOR: But before any of the local men can use the gym they need to be monitored.

RAGGETT: You got to go through a health check first, your heart and everything if you’re alright to come into the weight room, that sort of stuff, blood pressure’s the main thing..

NARRATOR: A check up that’s providing much needed health information on men in this community.

MALBUNKA: It’s not just for young people, we also have to do it ourselves to, for people who are in their 50s and 60s. Because at the moment we’ve only got a few old people living. We want to be a role model for our generation.

RAGGETT: It’s not just older blokes even kids, young school kids go there, those old enough to be a young man.

GENERAL: You mob leaving them behind. They’re kicking the ball, you’re standing scratching your head. That’s what I don’t like.

MALBUNKA: So when young fellas hear this old bloke is going up to 60’s and 70s years old to give him that longer life, well he’s been exercising he’s been eating good food. He’s keeping away from grog, not really away from grog, but just drinking at certain times, so they are a good role model for us too.

NARRATOR: The centre’s attitude to alcohol is based on issues of domestic violence and substance abuse, experienced by the women using the local safe house.

MARJORIE WHEELER: Yeah because we had lots of problems here at Hermannsburg, like drinking, and now we got a new safe house here. We call it our kucha and there’s the men when they drink. This is the man’s footprints he’s looking around for women and children when they are running away from him. There’s the woman and children and the woman and children will come to the safe house and stay here.

NARRATOR: And to stop families breaking apart at the men’s centre they’re tackling anger management to keep families strong and safe.

MERVYN RAGGETT: They bring up problems here so we all sort them out from here that’s why we have the punching bag and all that. The young fellas just punch the punching bag around just get it out of them.

MALBUNKA: It’s also to do with the anger too, we are trying to control young fellas from anger because anger is not good.

RAGGETT: Yeah we do a lot of anger management, that’s right.

NARRATOR: And the clear message here for young and old is that this community problem is the men’s responsibility.

GAYDON WALLY MALBUNKA: We’ve got to show our strength to look after our grandmothers and aunties…it’s our responsibility. A lot of kids are watching us saying…I’m going to grow up and be like father. They’re watching…they’ve got eyes and brains. As a hero…what are you proving to yourself? While he’s small, you’ve got to show him…prove to him that you’re his role model.

NARRATOR: A role model not only for these budding champions, but an example to neighboring communities.

ALBERT GALLAGHER: We’ve just got a museum that’s all. But we need a men’s business centre. The young fellas want to go to town you know, We want to keep them away from trouble, you know. They might learn something.

NARRATOR: Winning on the field is one thing but the goals these men are kicking off the field is what really matters here.

RALPH MALBUNKA: That’s what I’m going to say, I want you mob to understand and listen. If you drink a lot, just stop and think about your life. We want you mob to have a longer life…so you can show the younger kids our culture and our dreaming.