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West Australian
13-06-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Men from Goldfields-Esperance region open up about biggest struggles
A common saying associated with living in a small town is 'everyone knows everything about everyone' — but that's not always the case. Twenty-eight men from the Goldfields-Esperance region have opened up about their biggest struggles when it comes to their mental and physical health, with many responses revealing most of them choose to keep their issues to themselves. This week, to acknowledge and raise awareness for Men's Health Week, the Kalgoorlie Miner invited men from the region to participate in an anonymous survey aiming to find out about their mental and physical health issues. The Miner also spoke to Kalgoorlie-Boulder clinical psychologist Christina Petz, who believes men often struggle more with mental health issues as they are less likely to speak about their feelings compared to women. 'I think that's the big difference between women and men, which is women will generally access something or look for help, while men are less likely to reach out for help,' she said. 'Men just put on a brave face and try to get through it by themselves.' According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 75 per cent of people who have ended their lives are men, while 83 per cent of those had displayed risk factors associated with poor physical and mental health. From the survey by the Kalgoorlie Miner, 85 per cent of the participants aged 16 to 68 admitted to experiencing a physical or mental health issue. Some 64 per cent of the men said they had dealt with a physical health issue, while more than half admitted to having a mental health issue. And 46 per cent of participants said they had even suffered from both. The most prevalent mental health issues the regional men reported to having were depression and anxiety, while their most common physical health issues involved problems with their weight and having an addiction, including alcohol and substance abuse. One 30-year-old anonymous participant admitted to having issues with addiction as a result of other issues he had faced and said it took him a long time until he asked for help. 'It took me many years to speak to a professional and learn how to identify when I was spiralling and to try speak to someone, as opposed to numbing it with substances,' he said. A 19-year-old participant also reported having an addiction as well as weight problems and mental health issues, and said he avoided seeking help because he was afraid of confronting his addiction. 'I avoided seeking medical advice because I felt like I never had enough time due to work and when I did have time, I felt uncomfortable going because it's hard to admit that I have an addiction that I shouldn't have at my age,' he said. Ms Petz said she believed there was a 'gender bias' which held lots of men back from seeking help. 'I think there's a gender bias that we have in society that men are strong and women are weak,' she said. 'We're taught as children that boys don't cry but it's acceptable for girls to.' Many of the men who participated in the survey admitted to avoiding professional help because of their beliefs about how men needed to act according to the world. 'As a male, your mental health issues are your issues that you deal with so it can't be used against you,' one said. Another said: 'I did avoid help because I felt weak asking for it'. 'I feel like if I can't help myself then no one can,' another said. Ms Petz said there were many online resources for men suffering from mental health issues who felt 'vulnerable' seeking face-to-face help and recommended the Medicare Mental Health webpage. A 37-year-old man from Kalgoorlie-Boulder who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks shared his story in the Kalgoorlie Miner's anonymous survey about how online resources helped him shake his attacks. 'At my worst I didn't sleep for three days straight as every time I tried to, I would wake up five minutes later in the middle of an attack,' he said. 'I lost 10kg within a month and I never wanted to or took medication for anxiety — instead, I learnt about what internal behaviours, thought patterns and beliefs caused my anxiety and panic attacks.' The man said Panic Free TV on Youtube helped him stop his panic attacks within weeks, while helped him to understand why he felt a certain way and how to deal with his emotions. 'I haven't had a panic attack in six years,' he said. 'It all starts with the correct information being available and people recognising the symptoms.' Another participant said he thought if it was not for seeking professional help and talking through his struggles with his loved ones, he would probably no longer be alive. 'I learnt from my previous battle with mental health issues to identify when I was going downhill and to brace myself with a strong support network of friends, family and professionals,' he said. 'I make my support network aware in the early days instead of holding it in and we have been able to keep me from spiralling. 'I learnt to do this through one of my therapists and it has been extremely helpful. 'It's probably kept me alive.' A 41-year-old survey participant from the region also shared his experience of being diagnosed with sepsis and other physical health issues and how he overcame the worst of it. The man said he was in an induced coma for several months, losing lots of weight, and was then refused back into his work after he recovered. He said he was 'losing his mind' until he found help. 'I spoke with an actual psychologist, Frank at Regional Counselling Services, and it made me realise I wasn't anxious, depressed or losing my mind — I was bored and wanted to be active,' he said. 'I took up some hobbies to keep my hands and mind busy, but I couldn't have done it without the support from my partner, my kids and my friends.' Ms Petz said taking up hobbies and incorporating healthy habits into daily routines was vital for living a healthy life, both mentally and physically. She recommends people struggling should get plenty of sleep, eat healthy, exercise, connect with others, learn to manage stress, do breathing and reflecting exercises. Ms Petz also said she believed it was important for men to identify when they were struggling, as many regional men, specifically those in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, often grappled with demanding work hours. A 44-year-old father of two from the region admitted to feeling burnt out by his long work hours. 'When I was younger, working long swings of two weeks or more was not too much of a problem, but now that I have two young kids and I'm in my 40s, the long swings have started to take its toll on my physical and mental health,' he said. 'I miss important family events when I'm at work and when I'm home, I'm constantly struggling with fatigue which affects my ability to be a good dad and husband. 'Drinking alcohol and comfort eating are ways I self-manage my fatigue and anxiety, which is affecting my physical health.' The man said after he realised his job had affected his life, he took action to improve it. 'I am currently talking to a counsellor about managing my anxiety and stress and have considered a change of careers,' he said. 'I also find going to the gym a good way to feel more positive and less stressed.' Ms Petz recommended men who might be struggling with their careers to take time off when they need or reduce their work hours if their work-to-life balance was becoming unmanageable. She also insisted men reduce any unhealthy coping mechanisms they might have, such as consuming alcohol, saying most of the time physical and mental health issues were linked. 'If you improve one of them — your mental health or your physical health — both of them are going to improve,' she said. She believes there's still a 'long way to go' for men's health to improve but is hopeful with the right knowledge and awareness, more men will feel confident facing and overcoming their challenges. Men's Health Week is from June 9 to 15 and encourages people to check in with their mates and to not feel ashamed asking for help. This year's theme is Men's Health Checks, emphasising the importance of addressing health challenges and booking regular health checks. The number for the online men's counselling service MensLine Australia is 1300 789 978, while the number for the crisis support helpline Lifeline WA is 13 11 14.
West Australian
13-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Booklet brilliantly documents Panthers' 125 years
Railways' 125th anniversary this year in the Goldfields Football League has coincided with the release of a special booklet, detailing the club's formative years to the present day. The club evolved in 1900 from Locomotives, who a year earlier had played in ad hoc local matches. Railways, however, only had to wait until 1903 for an inaugural flag — the same season they defeated East Fremantle to lift the State Premiership. It launched an early dynasty that also yielded flags in 1904 and 1905 and by 1931 the Panthers boasted nine premierships (1903-05, 1911-12, 1919-1920, 1929, 1931). From 1942-44, official GFL fixtures were frozen because of World War II, but it paved the way for women's football to take centre stage — including a special Armed Forces charity match between Railways and Kalgoorlie at Kalgoorlie Oval. Phyllis Hamilton kicked three goals for Railways, but the team was beaten by 53 points. Plans for a Ladies Football League to be formed in the Goldfields were initially outlined in the Kalgoorlie Miner on May 28, 1921. More than a century later, in 2022, Railways celebrated their maiden appearance in the GFL's expanded women's competition with a nine-point win against reigning premiers Boulder. Of Railways' squad, only one had Australian Rules experience. 'It took us a while to get that first goal, and (we had) 21 out of the 22 who hadn't played a game of footy before, so they still have a lot to learn,' inaugural coach Cory Jones said at the time. 'Some stuff you can't teach at training and they can only learn on the field. But they ask questions and take those answers on board.' The 1960s and 1970s were golden years for Railways that produced 10 of the club's 35 league premierships. Following on from grand final triumphs of 1960, 1963-64 and 1966, the red-and-blacks captured additional flags in 1971, 1973-75 and 1978-79. Fast-forward to 2022 and not much had changed, with Railways' victory over Boulder in the GFL grand final reflecting an impressive record since 2000, underpinned to that point by 14 appearances in the flag decider. The 9.12 (66) to 7.10 (52) result broke a five-year drought and provided the red-and-blacks with an eighth premiership during the time frame. It included seven consecutive grand final appearances between 2009 and 2015, highlighted by back-to-back flags in 2011-12. The Panthers were denied a premiership hat-trick with a 21-point loss to Kalgoorlie in the 2013 grand final. Railways' 2022 success occurred in coach Rhett Pettit's third season, broken up by the cancellation of the 2020 season because of COVID-19. After Railways lost a pulsating 2023 grand final by two points against Boulder, they roared back last year by again lifting the trophy after defeating Kalgoorlie. Railways' exclusive 200-game club comprises just eight members — led by games record-holder Rhett Foster (275). Joining him are David Stubbs (273), Neville Brierley (237), Kody Kelman (235), Harry Jordan (218), Mark Dellar (214), Aaron Rymer (206), and Robbie Payton (201). The anniversary booklet includes the origins and significance of the club's Indigenous jumper, specially designed by Stubbs' aunt, artist Maria Cooper Bandry, and a memorial section for the late Shane Properjohn, Mitch Gillam and John Armstrong Jr.
Mercury
12-06-2025
- Business
- Mercury
Mapped: Areas where Australians are striking gold
Two friends from Western Australia have struck gold, pocketing more than $160,000 after discovering large nuggets during a prospecting mission. Amalgamated Prospectors and Leaseholders Association of Western Australia President James Allison told the Kalgoorlie Miner the two men uncovered the treasure at Sandstone, a small town some 400km northwest of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Mr Allison said the two men, who had been prospecting for decades, came across a one-ounce nugget worth more than $5000. Later that day, the pair hit the jackpot again when their detector picked up a second sound. The men dug up and unearthed another piece weighing 895 grams, worth a whopping $161,000, according to the Perth Mint spot price as of June. MORE: MCC boss' secret $2m Melb mancave revealed Aus warned: Squatters move into man's home Revealed: Block buyer torches apartments as duds Victoria is also on the cusp of a whole new gold rush, with bush blocks where owners have found the odd nugget becoming hot property. Towns across the state's former gold fields, and especially in the golden triangle bounded by Bendigo, Ballarat and Wedderburn, have wannabe prospectors hunting for cheap land to hunt for the valuable mineral. With the price of gold surging over the past decade the leading lobby group believes more and more people will be looking to stake a claim to an alluvial address. Prospectors and Mining Association of Victoria President Jason Cornish said more people had begun looking to buy a cheap bush block amid fears the state government would turn Crown land — where prospecting is currently legal — into national parks, where it is not. Stockdale & Leggo Bendigo Sales Manager Grant Hosking said he was seeing good numbers of retirees relocating from Melbourne to take up a prospecting hobby in their golden years. Buyers have been homing in on blocks anywhere from 4ha to 40ha. 'In Wedderburn, property has never sold that quick, but we are selling them very, very quickly at the moment — and getting good prices for them,' Mr Hosking said. 'And most of it is weekenders and hobby prospectors.' The Australian Government Geoscience Australia website shows a map of where gold is likely to be found and which states have greater sources of gold. It says gold is mostly found in rocks, and WA accounted for 60 per cent of Australia's gold discoveries. Primary deposits, where miners target, were in Kalgoorlie in the Super Pit, Granny Smith, St Ives, Norseman and Mount Magnet all in WA, Gympie and Ravenswood Qld, Callie NT, Stawell Vic, Cadia NSW, Henty Tas and Challenger in SA. Gold is also found in Olympic Dam, SA – the area is mined with copper and uranium. 'Mostly, gold is spread throughout the rocks and soil around us but in such low amounts that it's not worthwhile trying to get it out,' the website said. 'However, there are some places where there is enough gold to make it economic to mine.' — Additional reporting by Nathan Mawby Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox. MORE: Where Aus' secret religious clans really hide Sneaky bank trick stopping Aussies saving Scary reason Aus renters won't move
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pair of Aussie mates make incredible $161,000 discovery deep in the outback
A pair of "good mates" in the country's west are reportedly now more than $160,000 richer after unearthing multiple large gold nuggets during a single prospecting mission. James Allison, Amalgamated Prospectors and Leaseholders Association of Western Australia's president, said the two men were trying their luck at Sandstone, a small town some 400km north-west of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, when they uncovered serious treasure recently. Allison told the Kalgoorlie Miner the two men had been prospecting for decades, but at the end of May, they came across a one-ounce nugget worth more than $5,000. Later that same day, their luck struck again in a big way when their detector picked up a second very promising sound. It prompted the men to dig up another piece buried at about 250mm deep and weighing 895 grams, which at today's values puts it at a whopping $161,000, based on the Perth Mint spot price as of June. Allison said the men celebrated over a beer later that evening and continued to prospect the following day, with the incredible find making front page news on Wednesday. It's certainly not the first time dedicated Aussies have hit the jackpot prospecting in the outback lately. Tyler Mahoney, also from Kalgoorlie in WA, is a fourth-generation gold prospector. She sold a mammoth nugget for a cool $9,500 back in January 2024. Tyler, who starred in the reality series Gold Rush, told Yahoo that most of the time it's the "small pieces of gold" she finds that end up paying her wages. 'Rare' outback find sells for $9,500 with booming market on rise Aussie woman's $7,000 find in outback: 'Not a bad day's work' $20,000 in hidden gold: Aussie prospector reveals secret Tyler explained that the state's long history of gold mining dates back to the 1880s, with the first gold rush sparked by the discovery of the "Golden Mile" at Kalgoorlie in the 1890s. Sizeable nuggets are "getting harder and harder" to find, she said, meaning that it's exceptionally "lucky" to uncover such large treasures. Because of this, natural gold nuggets — called alluvial gold, which have broken away from their original source — can sell for about 30 per cent more than refined gold like bars, coins, or ingots. That's because they're rarer and more sought-after by collectors, so they come with a higher price tag. And it's not just those in WA who have recently uncovered gold. Last year, Angus James found $20,000 worth of gold in a single day in Victoria. Angus insists working full-time with his metal detector is bringing in more than the average wage. He said there is still a lot of valuable metal waiting to be discovered. So much remains that he's more than happy to share some very specific tips on how to find it. "The Golden Triangle in Victoria is one of the best places to go looking for gold. So, Inglewood, Bendigo, Ballarat have all got places worth searching," he told Yahoo last year. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
West Australian
06-06-2025
- General
- West Australian
No end in sight for Boulder odour, but mayor says ‘process modifications' have been implemented
There is currently no end in sight for the smell which has been plaguing Boulder, with mayor Glenn Wilson unable to estimate when it might end, but revealing 'process modifications' had been recently implemented. The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is working with the Department of Water and Environment Regulation, who received the city's independent odour investigation report, to address several factors at the South Boulder Wastewater Treatment Plant that could impact odour issues in the city. When asked by the Kalgoorlie Miner what progress had been made recently, Mr Wilson said process modifications were implemented last week at the plant, with additional changes scheduled during the next two months. 'We understand the continued odour in Boulder is frustrating for residents and, unfortunately, there's no simple answer,' he said. 'The odour is coming from several sources, many of which are outside the city's control. 'While we can't give a date for when it will stop, we're focused on addressing what's within our reach and making sure upgrades to our facility stay on track. 'We're also continuing to work closely with DWER on the wider issue.' Mr Wilson said relevant parts of the independent report were shared with private operators identified as contributors, but he could not comment on what progress, if any, had been made by them to reduce the smell. He encouraged residents to continue reporting instances of the odour at Described by residents as a 'rotten-egg smell', 'sewage smell', and 'chemical smell', the odour has long been a source of community complaints. In response to ongoing concerns, the city engaged Perth-based odour specialist Philippe Najean from OPAM Consulting, who assessed the issue and reported his findings to the council. The wastewater treatment plant was identified as a 'significant contributor' to the smell, with the report saying implementation of 'more effective measures' — such as the upgraded intermittent decanted extended aeration plant — would help create a more 'pleasant environment' for all. The Western Resource Recovery odour emissions were also found to have an effect at further distances — at least 2.5km — but the report says additional assessment is required to assess the true distance. The increased height of the Super Pit bund wall on the south side has also been identified as an issue regarding dissipation of the plume. Recycled water used for irrigation in local parks, especially Wingate Street and Norkal parks, and aircraft activity at the airport, also contributed to odours reported by the community. A potential contributing odour from Fimiston was also recognised, but the report says additional assessment will be required to confirm if it is affecting the community. The BHP nickel smelter and Lynas Rare Earths processing facility were not fully operational during the investigation.
