General News
4 December, 2025
Footy legend commends local survivors
AN Australian Rules Football icon was in awe of panel of local men sharing stories about their health journeys as part of an information evening on Monday night focussed on prostate cancer. Four time VFL/AFL premiership coach David Parkin OAM was the marquee drawcard for ‘Blokes in the Bush’ at Alexandra Oval, an initiative driven by Ararat’s Blue Ribbon Foundation branch to raise awareness about the importance of regular prostate health checks, and about the resources and support available for men battling prostate cancer.
Mr Parkin, himself a prostate cancer survivor and patron for prostate cancer research and support organisation The Male Bag Foundation, joined a panel of local men who shared insights about their own challenges with prostate cancer and the experience left the renowned football hard man
emotional and visibly moved as he listened to their stories.
The 1965 Hawthorn best-and-fairest winner said he was humbled to hear from the survivors and he heaped praise on the event organisers for creating a forum for men to share stories.
“We don’t have the situation which allows someone to come in, who has been down that pathway, to sit in front of 100 people and to talk about their experience related to this particular disease,” Mr Parkin said in the moments following the successful event.
“These four people who were sitting up the front have all had a different pathway with a similar outcome in a sense, I’ve done a fair bit of background work in this area and yet I learned, at my
age of 80-odd now, learned so much tonight which was a variation on the pathway I’ve walked facing the same thing.”
He said the local Blue Ribbon Foundation team should be commended for facilitating an event that spread such an important message.
“They ought to be extremely proud of what they’ve done and what they’re doing, and the manner in which they’ve been able to attract support.”
The evening kicked off with a few drinks and a suitably blokey dinner, before Mr Parkin opened proceedings with some information about The Male Bag Foundation and his own prostate cancer journey, as well as weaving in a few tales from his remarkable football career, and stories about his
links to Ararat including visits to Westgate near Armstrong, and pre-season footy training at Alexandra Oval with the Ararat Rats.
A proud and relieved Dianne Radford was thrilled post-event that her committee of dedicated Blue Ribbon volunteers had pulled off a great event, with proceeds from the night split between the Blue Ribbon Foundation and The Male Bag Foundation.
“Monday night’s ‘Blokes in the Bush’ was successful and definitely reached out to raise the awareness for blokes about prostate cancer,” said Ms Radford.
“It was pleasing to get approximately 80 blokes and some partners along to share their stories, particularly those on the panel - Simon Clayfield, Leo Harrington, Steve Shannon and Roger Phillis - Not easy but they all did it so well.
“We are grateful to our special guest David Parkin for joining us, himself a prostate survivor and with connections this way through the Dalkin family.”
Ms Radford also acknowledged specialist prostate nurse Gay Corbett, who addressed the crowd with a presentation about the support that’s out there for men dealing with prostate issues.
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