Gus Worland speaking at the 2023 HIM event. Photos: Supplied.
Men’s health advocate and media personality Gus Worland will have a full-circle moment when he returns to the Illawarra this November, joining cricket legend Lord Ian Botham OBE at the 2025 International Men’s Day Lunch in Wollongong.
Founder of Gotcha4Life and a passionate advocate for mental fitness, Worland has a special connection with Healthier Illawarra Men (HIM), which hosts the event, having helped relaunch the organisation.
He and Karl Stefanovic were central to HIM’s first event in 2022 — the Gotcha4Life Mateship Miles Brunch — which raised more than $34,000 to fund mental fitness programs in the Illawarra.
Worland also spoke at the 2023 HIM International Men’s Day Lunch with Alex Volkanovski.
HIM chairman Mark Sleigh said it was fantastic to have Worland back for this year’s event.
“Gus was there at the very start when we relaunched Healthier Illawarra Men, and having him return to join Lord Ian Botham on stage is a real full-circle moment,” Mark said.
“Gus will be part of a powerful panel conversation alongside other major names we’ll be announcing soon.”
He said tickets were already being snapped up, with another sellout expected.
Worland, who previously worked on Triple M breakfast radio and on a series of reality TV programs including Man Up on the ABC, said he was proud to be returning to the Illawarra for the event.
“My connection with HIM goes back to that first Mateship Miles Brunch in 2022, and to see how much the movement has grown since then is inspiring,” he said.
“The Illawarra is showing what can happen when men come together, get vulnerable, and support each other.”
Since its revival in 2022, the lunch has raised more than $350,000 for programs that tackle mental health challenges, build emotional resilience, and support victims of domestic and family violence.
Gus Worland and Karl Stefanovic at the 2022 event.
Alongside Worland will be one of the most recognisable figures in world sport, English cricket royalty and tireless charity advocate Lord Ian Botham OBE, affectionately known as “Beefy”.
He was announced as guest speaker in June.
Widely regarded as England’s greatest all-round cricketer, Botham played 102 Tests, scoring more than 5000 runs and taking 383 wickets, and is famous for his match-winning feats in the 1981 Ashes.
Away from the pitch, he has raised more than £20 million through his renowned charity walks and continues to inspire through his philanthropy, business and media work in the UK and Australia.
“It’s a fantastic cause, shining a light on men’s health, mental wellbeing, supporting blokes doing it tough,” Botham said via video during the June launch.
“I’ve seen firsthand the power of talking, listening and showing up for each other – that’s what this lunch is all about.”
This year’s lunch will be held on 14 November, coinciding with World Diabetes Day, a cause close to Botham’s heart.
Event MC will be WIN News journalist and anchor Bruce Roberts, who has presented more than 18,000 news bulletins across the Illawarra, Canberra, Victoria and Tasmania, and is known for his professionalism, passion and openness about men’s health.
With funds raised previously supporting organisations like The Man Walk, Top Blokes Foundation and even Gotcha4Life, HIM is now preparing to open applications for its next grant funding round, supporting Illawarra charities and community groups delivering frontline men’s health initiatives.
The 2025 HIM International Men’s Day Lunch will be held at UniHall, University of Wollongong, on 14 November from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm.
