Today is International Men’s Day, a day to celebrate the many positive male role models we have in our lives and are fortunate to be working with here at Abergeldie. All the men and women who have worked with us over 25 years have contributed in making a positive difference in our local communities. They have helped us in our mission to build better communities by quite tangibly providing complex infrastructure projects and volunteering their free time with organisations such as St Vincent de Paul Society and Oxfam. All their efforts go towards creating sustainable communities.
In light of the theme for 2019, “Making a Difference for Men and Boys” we interviewed a few of our male employees in NSW, VIC and QLD asking them what it means to be a man and what words of advice they would offer up to the younger male generations.
Daniel “Macca” – General Superintendent
“Have manners, respect yourself and others and stand up for what you believe in.”
Zabin – Graduate Engineer
“Similar to being a duck. Remain calm on the surface and paddle like crazy underneath.”
Paul – Queensland Delivery Manager
“To support your family and everyone around you, don’t be afraid to show emotions, to me a true man has feelings.”
Charles – Quantity Surveyor
“To be a good example for my kids and others.”
Antonio – Project Manager
“That it is ok to fail, as long as they have given it a good attempt. That it is ok to ask for help, and to talk about feelings and emotions, especially when they’re feeling down. To show everyone respect, and not to judge people by their appearances.”
Not only is it important to celebrate the contribution of positive male role models in our workplace, but it is also an important day to raise awareness about men’s issues including mental health and wellbeing and male suicide. We hope that these interviews help to spark conversations around men’s issues amongst all of our employees, regardless of age, gender, race or sexual orientation.
One prevalent issue we wish to raise awareness of today is the high level of suicide among Australian construction workers. According to the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention (AISRAP) report published in 2006, a major report on suicide within Queensland’s Commercial Building and Construction Industry, suicide rates in the construction industry were higher than the Australian average for men. Australian charities like MATES in Construction are trying to tackle this important issue within our industry. In light of celebrating the men in our lives, we wish to highlight the importance of the mental health and wellbeing of men and women in our industry. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, you can contact the national MATES in Construction helpline on 1300 642 111 for a confidential conversation.
Abergeldie values the men and women who come to work with us. They pride themselves on safety, hard work, respect and lending a hand when needed.
Helpful Resources:
- Happy Sad Man film (2019) https://happysadman.org
- Five Things Every Man Should Know https://au.movember.com/mens-health/general
- Fluro Friday Surfing Sessions, “Free the Funk” https://www.onewaveisallittakes.com/about
- International Men’s Day website https://internationalmensday.com/
- MATES in Construction: Suicide Prevention in the Construction Industry website http://matesinconstruction.org.au/
- Beyond Blue website focusing on men’s health and wellbeing https://www.beyondblue.org.au/who-does-it-affect/men
- St Vincent de Paul Society Australia: Health Matters https://www.vinnies.org.au/page/Our_Impact/Health_matters/
About Abergeldie
Abergeldie is a civil engineering contractor with over 25 years’ experience providing services in the utilities, energy and infrastructure sectors: the complex infrastructure needed to build better communities.
