FEATURE - Three Close Mates

“Having three close mates is one of the best things blokes can have to improve their health and well-being.” - Sam Parker

by Rebecca Mugridge

“Burgers, bros and beers” was the plan when Sam Parker met with some mates one night in 2016. A night that turned out to be a fortuitous one. It was the night the concept behind Grab Life by The Balls was hatched. Sam didn’t know it then, but he was about to create something that would change and save lives.

“I grew up in country New South Wales, which probably speaks to what I do now. I was working as a chiropractor when I stumbled across statistics that really struck a chord with me,” he shared.

“One in four Aussie men have no close mates outside their immediate family. One in three Aussie men report feeling lonely. Loneliness and social isolation are as bad for your health as obesity or smoking 15 cigarettes a day.” 

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics of the 3,307 deaths by suicide in Australia in 2024, more than three-quarters (76.5%) were male. 

Associate Professor Tim Moss from men’s health organisation, Healthy Male, states that “Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australian males aged 15 to 44 and is the third-leading cause of death for males aged 45 to 64. And almost one in three deaths of

Australian males aged 15 to 24 are caused by suicide: for males aged 25-44 it’s one in four.” 

And this is where the innovative passion project, Grab Life by The Balls (GLBTB) is stepping up to step in and make change.

“Grab Life by the Balls is redefining the way we talk about boys' and men’s overall health and well-being through simple, genuine moments that actually make a difference. No jargon or fluff. Just real talk about what matters, and how connection and mateship can shift culture and change lives,” explained Sam.

GLBTB holds free, social gatherings for men, with Nambour now one of the locations. These popular events are an open invitation to any men to come down and have a chat and make some friendships and social connections with no pressure whatsoever. 

“We’ve got 23 locations and around eight weekly catch ups across four states and one territory at the moment,” Sam said.

There are opportunities for men to get involved at a deeper level too, such as being a wingman [volunteer] at one of the many coffee events and they are also always looking to expand into more areas. 

“We currently have Mooloolah and Nambour, and I’d love to branch out to Beerwah and Maleny and other places in the Hinterland.”

Sam said the reason these events have been so popular and effective is because it is kept simple and real. 

“We try to focus on mateship.” 

The whole thing – it’s practical, simple, it works, and it’s engaging. Trying to do something proactive for your health can often be so complicated but the statistics are in.

“If you have three or more close mates, that you confide in, you decrease your risk factors for anxiety, depression, suicide, mental health issues, and even stroke and heart attack.

“Even prostate cancer, although it is not prevented by having mates, having mates is shown to increase the recovery rates after having prostate cancer treatment,” said Sam.

“There is real evidence around mateship and connection, that the key to a healthier, happier life is social connection, which is part of the solution to a lot of issues. 

“If men and boys have strong social connections with good people around them, they are less likely to choose a negative path. Having a strong male mentor outside the family unit, especially in that 14-18 age group is key for boys to thrive – so we have also built a program around that.” 

Sam said the social events work because they are happening out in the community. 

“We are out there, at grass roots, to show that it’s the social norm for men to get together and have social connection. The in-person catch ups are just about coming down and having a chat and they’re run with volunteers, like Brad and Bernie who run the Nambour events.”

There has been a great deal of support for GLBTB, such as Lucas, who “rode his bike from Adelaide to Darwin fundraising for us last year, and now he is at it again, riding around Australia,” smiled Sam. 

The Chinchilla Bulldogs raised $19,000 for the not-for-profit. “I was at a wedding when I got the call, I almost fell in the fire!”

And it is the feedback from men who attend events that really hits home too. 

“It’s great to talk, to get stuff off your chest, but it can be really hard for guys too. One bloke said, ‘I have better mates here than anywhere else in my life. I wasn’t even looking for this, and this is just bloody great’. 

“Another guy told us he credits coming down for mates and bacon and eggs at Mooloolaba on a Friday morning [with GLBTB] as the thing that turned his life around. Powerful stuff.

“Trying to do something proactive for your health can be so complicated, but ours is a simple message - three close mates. Whether it’s ones you already have, or new ones you meet through coming to our social catch-ups.

“Whatever it is you like doing, reconnect with mates, message mates and go do something.”

Grab Life By The Balls social events: grablifebytheballs.com.au/nambour

Get involved with GLBTB: grablifebytheballs.com.au/wingman

GLBTB on Facebook: grablifebytheballsmovement