Twelve men gathered at Billyo’s Bush Retreat in Wongarbon near Dubbo, for the first ever Western NSW Men’s Table Retreat.
Across the dusty plains, men travelled to arrive at Billyo’s early on the morning of Saturday 2 May 2026 to gather and connect with men from other tables across Western NSW. The invitation was sent out with the following question:
Beyond your table, are you ready to expand your connections, authenticity and care, to yourself and other men across Western NSW?
The twelve men responded from eight tables across the Western Plains and Central West of NSW.
The air was thick with anticipation as men slowly trickled into Billyo’s, and the mood was a mix of excitement and nerves as they greeted each with warm smiles and hand shakes. There were men that had been sitting at Tables for over two years, and men that had only just joined a Men’s Table, but the commonality was the desire for real conversations and deeper connections.
After men had registered and everyone was introduced, we launched into a check in, giving everyone the opportunity to ground themselves into the space. This was followed by a very enthusiastic game of Bocci – or as the French call it, Petangue. Luckily we had a very diligent (Thank you, Colin!) official on hand to make sure the game didn’t descend into chaos and bribes. This was followed by a chance for the men to go deeper with their connection via small groups and an opportunity to tell a story, listen, and witness each other’s lives.
Our keynote speaker, Warren Davies, better known as The Unbreakable Farmer shared his life story of loss, resilience, determination and persistence. We then held the grand final of the Western NSW Bocci Championships in the dying light of the evening. The game official decided that due to deteriorating light we would play the “golden point” rule, with the champions being crowned shortly afterwards. It was then back to the fireside for delicious pizza followed by a Men’s Table Meeting.
As I walked across the paddock to go to bed I noticed a big ring around the moon, and Glenn from Parkes pointed out that rain was on the way. I went to bed feeling tired but full of joy for the stories that I heard and the new friendships I had made.
The next day dawned bright and cool, and we gathered for coffee and egg and bacon rolls together. We then had a great group discussion around what the next retreat would look like and also about how we could get more men to Men’s Tables in Western NSW. Finally, we checked out of the retreat and bid each farewell, hoping we would all see each other sooner rather than later.
The next Western NSW Men’s Table Retreat is already in the planning and I will be sending out a save the date for later in 2026 soon. This will include an EOI for men looking to be involved in a co-design planning team for the retreat.
~ Al Stratton
MT39 Kangaroo Valley and
Regional Host, Western NSW
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