Throughout May, high above the eastern corner of Victoria University Whitten Oval was a billboard inviting men to a health expo run by the Western Bulldogs Football Club.
For many, the billboard drew a glance and it was on with their journey. But for some it was a trigger to make some changes.
One of these people was Michael Hoy - a true son of the west who grew up in nearby Hoppers Crossing and now lives in Werribee.
He’s a shy bloke but ask him if he takes a bit of pride in his patch of Melbourne he doesn’t hesitate: “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
His daily commute into the city takes him past the Club, and when he saw the billboard he knew it was time to act.
“The last six months prior I was really huffing and puffing and sweating all the time," Michael said. "I had trouble even putting my shoes on without getting out of breath and when you’ve got young kids eventually you’ve got to do something about it if you want to enjoy life with them.”
Earlier in the year Michael had been admitted to hospital following a testicular cancer scare.
“They didn’t know initially for certain whether it was and the only way they could find out was to go in and have a bit of a look," Michael said.
"I suspected that there wouldn’t be anything wrong – which is what happened – and that they’d take it out and I’d be as good as gold.”
He’s in the clear now but it was the recovery period and being laid up for a month that had the biggest effect on him.
“The first week was really good - because I couldn’t move and was stuck in bed, I ate a lot less than usual and lost a weight as a result," he said.
"But as soon as I got well enough to walk around I’d hit the fridge and got up to 140 kilos, which is the heaviest I’d ever been.”
The extra weight had led to trouble sleeping and the occasional bout of depression. He knew it was time to act and he made a plan to get down to Whitten Oval for the men’s health expo.
He kept it to himself up until a couple of days before the expo, sharing the news with his Mum and his wife.
“There were really proud,” he said.
Now, instead of spending Wednesday night’s eating fried food in front of the TV he looks forward to getting to the Glen Orden Sports Pavilion in Werribee with the rest of the men of Team Wyndham.
At the half way point of the program he’s lost six kilos, but most importantly he’s made some critical changes that have begun to turn around three decades of bad habits.
Gone are the hamburgers, the pies and the soft drink and in their place are fruit, vegetables, regular walks and a renewed sense of confidence and energy. And much to his family’s relief he has even stopped snoring.
He and a mate now meet every Thursday night to build a bar in the garage. But when asked if any low carb beer will be on tap, he laughs nervously.
“Ah… hasn’t exactly worked out like that. I’ve dropped somethings. I have lowered the amount I’m drinking though!”
Like most of the men across the councils, Michael’s a work in progress but his well on the way to getting where he wants to go.
