REASON TO CARE

Hobart security manager Tom Windsor has a pretty heavy reason for wanting to raise awareness of men’s mental health.

About 15 years ago when he was just 23, Tom lost his father to suicide and since then has made a commitment to help stop men dying too young.

For more than a decade, the now husband and father of two, has been raising awareness and funds for major health issues affecting men from mental health to prostate cancer.

After his father died,Tom says it was definitely the toughest and most devastating period of his life.

“But at the same time it [the experience] also had a positive influence on it,” Windsor says. “To see how my friends gathered around me, and the kindness and mateship that was involved taught me a very important lesson early in my life.”

Along with friends, Windsor founded Mobart Mo Bros, a group striving to help spread the message of staying healthy both physically and mentally.

Mobart Mo Bros is the official race day ambassador for the Point to Pinnacle half marathon, which involves its members helping and encouraging everyone to get up THAT hill and it has also been Australia’s top Movember fundraising team for the past five years.

Windsor’s efforts saw him nominated by someone who still remains anonymous to him for Tasmania’s Local Hero, which he won. He will represent the state for the category at the 2020 Australian of the Year Awards to be held in Canberra today.

The Australia Day Awards will be broadcast live on ABC TV tonight, from 7.30pm.

If you or somebody you know needs help call Lifeline on 13 11 14