Sons of the West Graduation

[Bornadog]

The Sons of the West Men's Health - is a great initiative by the club.

A few WOOFers joined the programme this year and graduated last week.

[Eastdog]

Re: Sons of the West Graduation

Great video BAD thanks for sharing. Which woofers were involved in this program. Im aware that Twodogs and ledge both graduated last Saturday night so well done you guys.

[Twodogs]

Re: Sons of the West Graduation

Great video BAD thanks for sharing. Which woofers were involved in this program. Im aware that Twodogs and ledge both graduated last Saturday night so well done you guys.

Cheers Easty, it was a terrific thing to be involved in. The health seminars every week were great information sharing exercises and the exercise sessions each week were a great addition.

And we got our Sons Of The West jumpers. And I got to shake Chris Grants hand.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Sons of the West Graduation

I only hear good things from people who went along. Maybe next year you can go out on the ground with the next class graduates.

[Eastdog]

Re: Sons of the West Graduation

We are one of the top community clubs in the league and we should all be proud with our engagement in the western suburbs. Whether we are Dogs fans that live in the west or outside the west its vitally important we keep connecting to the western suburbs and hopefully with success not only get supporters from community engagement in the west but from all over. This is something we have over a club like North Melbourne one of our close geographic rivals.

[Twodogs]

Re: Sons of the West Graduation

I only hear good things from people who went along. Maybe next year you can go out on the ground with the next class graduates.

We were going to do a lap of the ground at half time but it got cancelled out of respect for Phil Walsh. It didn't seem to be the dignified thing to do to have 250 Middle aged blokes slapping each other on the back in the middle of the ground.

[SonofScray]

Re: Sons of the West Graduation

The program is one of the best community health initiatives I've seen and read about the world over. The Club should be congratulated for its involvement and leadership, it is the sort of stuff strong brands and institutions should be participating in and deserves to reap the benefits of.

[HOSE B ROMERO]

Re: Sons of the West Graduation

We are one of the top community clubs in the league and we should all be proud with our engagement in the western suburbs. Whether we are Dogs fans that live in the west or outside the west its vitally important we keep connecting to the western suburbs and hopefully with success not only get supporters from community engagement in the west but from all over. This is something we have over a club like North Melbourne one of our close geographic rivals.

We are THE community club. Going back to the mid '80's when Les Twentyman went to Galimberti and Malthouse about players becoming more involved with local schools and the 'care for kids' programme.

[Twodogs]

Re: Sons of the West Graduation

We are THE community club. Going back to the mid '80's when Les Twentyman went to Galimberti and Malthouse about players becoming more involved with local schools and the 'care for kids' programme.

That was a pretty long lasting and effective as a schools program but barely gets mentioned. Then again Steve MacPherson's son didn't even know that he played footy until he found some trophies in the shed.

[Bornadog]

Re: Sons of the West Graduation

That was a pretty long lasting and effective as a schools program but barely gets mentioned. Then again Steve MacPherson's son didn't even know that he played footy until he found some trophies in the shed.

Good photo of you and your son on the website.

[Twodogs]

Re: Sons of the West Graduation

Good photo of you and your son on the website.

Really? I will check it out. He had a great time. How could you miss with food and footy.

[Eastdog]

Re: Sons of the West Graduation

Great story hear relating to the Sons of the West program

Just makes me love our club and what we do in the community

http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/2015-07-30/sons-of-the-west-saved-my-life

Although he’d been there countless times over the years to watch his beloved Bulldogs, 45 year old Jonathan Manallack approached Victoria University Whitten Oval full of trepidation.

It’s May 17, 2014 and the Western Bulldogs had just launched the Sons of the West men’s health program to help tackle the alarming health outcomes of men living and working in Melbourne’s western suburbs.

Recently diagnosed with a heart condition and coupled with a growing list of bad habits and inactivity, Jonathan’s weight had begun to balloon out of control and he was becoming increasingly self-conscious.

Even train rides to the city were becoming a thing of the past.

“If I absolutely had to travel it would be off peak because the last thing I wanted to do was take up other people’s space and have to squeeze them in. And I never ever sat down. The whole thing made me feel uncomfortable and I avoided it.”

He had reached a point in his life where he was stuck and didn’t know where to turn.

“So I put my hand up and attended the first Sons of the West Men’s Health Expo.”

But that too came with its own battle: “ For me to get up on the scales was stepping so far out of my comfort zone it wasn't funny, not only would I get to see the weight I actually was, but I had to do it in front of another people.“

He left the ground that day stunned and a little hurt. It had been so long since he had weighed himself that when the needle settled on the number it did, it him hard. If you speak to him today, he’ll tell you that it it was on that day that his journey to better health began.

It was and continues to be a long journey and day he’s quick to say that he’s only halfway there.

“I only attended 2 sessions last year and felt a bit disappointed that I hadn’t achieved the goals that I wanted, which was losing weight, but I had in my mind I would do it better when the program ran again the following year.”

The seed had been planted and by the time year two came around, a more determined man arrived at VU Whitten Oval for his health check and he got a pleasant surprise when he again hit the scales at the 2015 expo.

“Of course, I was nervous about standing on the scales again but when I compared where I was with the previous year, I had managed to lose a larger amount of weight than I thought I had by just following the program online. So I was even more motivated to make it work this time around.”

As the calendar flipped to 2015 Jonathan was good to his word. It was a rare day when he missed a session, something that he is really proud of. He puts it down to a couple of things, not the least his own determination to not let himself down two years in a row, but to be able to do it alongside other men, all there for the same reason as he was, to get healthy.

“We learnt that it was OK to say, hey I am not OK and ask for help.”

By the time the 15 week program neared its conclusion and it was time to do another health check, he couldn’t wait to get down to VU Metro West in Nicholson Street to jump on the scales.

And he got the result he was hoping for.

Jonathan has lost 28 kilograms since that day in May 2014 when he turned to his football club for help. While the weight loss has made a significant difference to his everyday life, it’s the newfound knowledge about how to improve and maintain his overall health, and the tools and the motivation to keep going that has been the real benefit.

“I fully believe I am on the track to better health and while some changes are visible, others are not. But since starting the program I’m completely off all blood pressure tablets and I have also reduced other medications by 2 tablets a day.”

“Without a doubt, the Sons of the West program hasn’t just changed my life, it is helping save my life.”

Jonathan kept a video diary of his 2015 Sons of the West experience. “Make the Rest of your Life, the Best of Your Life: A Sons of the West Journey” will be released in August 2015.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs

Exclusive to westernbulldogs.com.au

[Twodogs]

Re: Sons of the West Graduation

Cheers Easty. It was a really rewarding and worthwhile program.

A quick story.

One night the talk was all about cancer. Mainly prostate and bowell cancer. Not the sexiest of topics. Anyway the first person up talked about stats and early recovery. To say they didn't exactly hold the crowd was an understatement. We fidgeted and whispered to each other, I heard a phone beep and someone say "Talia's out!" and then everyone rustle in their pocket. So the next person is talking about survival numbers and the same thing. Then Eugene Arocca the ex North Melbourne CEO took the floor to talk about his battle with prostate cancer and you could have heard a pin drop. Everybody sat still and listened!

[Bornadog]

Re: Sons of the West Graduation

Great story here:

[Missing Dog]

Re: Sons of the West Graduation

Great story here:

Great story BAD I also saw a face I haven't seen in 30 odd years Scotty hasn't changed one bit.