Issue #935

by Blair Pattinson

So when was the last time you looked a mate in the eye and properly asked them how they’re going? It’s not a question a lot of us ask our mates, but maybe it should be.

I went to a talk a couple of years ago by ex-NZ police negotiator Lance Burdett who explained you need to ask someone three times ‘how are you actually doing, mate?’ to get the accurate truth out of them, which, at the time, surprised me.
I work in the construction industry, which has had a very wild ride the past two-and-a-half years. The pressures on workers and business owners right across the sector have been immense. That unfortunately has been too much for a few people in our community, to the point that they could see no way out and could no longer go on.

Workers in the building game typically don’t talk about these sorts of issues, much to the detriment of the industry and some people working within it. However, the tide seems to be slowly changing.

I’m a father of three amazing boys, all under six, which is full on, and as any parent knows has moments that test you, regularly. I’m also a residential building project manager, a job that at the best of times throws some pretty decent curve balls at you. When both work and home pressures build up, it can become quite overwhelming at times and affects people very differently.

I spoke to someone last year about stress and they asked if I did something regularly just for myself. I thought about it and to my surprise, I didn’t. I was so wrapped up with family and work life, I’d never really thought about it. So I started to play golf. Now, for an hour a day after work, before I get home to my family, I hit golf balls. It works really well. It’s an hour when I think about nothing other than how well I’m hitting the ball. My boys have taken a liking to it as well, which is great.

My employer has a great support system in place but that’s not the case for all work places. This is where organisations like Mates In Construction come in. They are at the forefront of mental health assistance and suicide awareness in the industry. My experience prompted me to fundraise for them by doing the thing that has helped me - hitting golf balls, for 24 hours (call me mad), starting 4pm, 8 February, at the Inspire Golf Frankton driving range.

Feel free to come down, try for the hole-in-one, to win some prizes and donate to a great cause. Updates and donation options on Facebook at Queenstown 24-hour Golf Challenge.