Community & Business
21 May, 2024
TOMNET Oakey brings up 20 years
The Oakey branch of The Older Men’s Network (TOMNET) celebrated 20 years of fellowship with a lunch at the Cockburn Landcare Centre.
Early in May 2004, a public meeting was held in the then Oakey Senior Citizens Centre (today’s Oakey Community Centre) to discuss the possible formation of a TOMNET (The Older Men’s Network) Group.
After some discussion among the large group of citizens present, it was thought that such a group being formed was a good idea.
Then Jondaryan Shire Mayor Peter Taylor who chaired the meeting proposed that Father Kerry Costigan be appointed the foundation President of the group.
This motion was seconded and approved by acclamation by many people present.
Rather surprised, but honoured by this call, as I was not given any notice, I accepted it and remained in this position until 3rd December, 2006 when I retired as local Catholic priest and left Oakey to live in Toowoomba.
We had our first meeting in an old shed near the then tennis courts in the grounds of the local Catholic school.
We had about 15 present - all very keen to bring something new in the story of their lives.
Over the past 20 years, we have had 24 members pass away.
We have an honour board in place where we have meetings... and we always begin meetings standing for a minute’s silence to remember our dead.
From the beginning, our group was blessed with men who wanted to make the idea of older men supporting older men work.
George Lipman was our secretary for many years, and Jerry Samuelsen fills this role today.
Various men succeeded me as President: Doug Darr, Ron Scheuerle, and Bruce Hoppe today.
In 2013, the Oakey TOMNET group received the ‘Community Group of the Year” Award from the Regional Council.
Today some of our projects include the men’s breakfast every couple of months, getting together 30 to 40 men and having a guest speaker to address us on some issues affecting older men and those not so old.
We also have a meal in the grounds outside the McDonald Nursing Home with the male residents on a regular basis.
Local members with their wives/partners meet monthly for lunch at the Tavern in Oakey.
This provides good social interaction and helps build a sense of belonging.
Our meetings themselves are occasions for such sharing; members are encouraged to speak of themselves, their thoughts, aches, problems, or whatever.
This leads to a friendly outcome and hopefully, improvement of their wellbeing.
- Fr Kerry Costigan KSJ
