Zain Jeffery

Meet Zain Jeffery, a 16-year-old student from Byford who is a regular at the youth drop in at Briggs Park and a keen scooter rider.

Zain was inspired to try out some scooter skills by his friend Ashley, and since then he has never looked back. Scootering is great for body balance and, best of all, it’s free to use the skate park in Byford.

Sadly, Zain’s friend Ashley passed away in 2018. To help him get through that tough time, Zain was part of a group of young people from around the Shire who got together to design and paint a commemorative art piece on the 1/4 pipe in honour of Ashley.

Thank you Zain for sharing your story as part of Men’s Health Week. Throughout the week we will be recognising different men and the contributions they make to our community, while sharing their advice on what they do to live a longer, healthier life. 

To find out more about what’s happening in the Shire for young people, follow the Youth of SJ team on Instagram here.

Peter Cuttriss

Meet Mundijong resident, Peter Cuttriss. Peter starts his day with some time in his vegetable garden where he is currently building a hothouse to grow tomatoes through winter.

He also puts his wood working and handy man skills to good use at the SJ Men’s Shed where he helps create and build objects from recycled timber. As the President of the SJ Men’s Shed, Peter believes it is very important to have a place like the Men’s Shed where men of all ages can “get together, provide support to each other and discuss their mental and physical health and wellbeing”.

If you are interested in finding out more about how the SJ Men’s Shed can provide you with a creative and productive outlet, visit their Facebook page here.

Thank you Peter for sharing your story as part of our celebration of Men’s Health Week.

Eric Ball

Meet Byford resident Eric Ball. Keeping himself busy and active is something Eric aims to achieve every day, and he believes that “when you stop work you must replace it with action and fun” - and that is exactly what he has done.

Retired after a lifetime working in the financial services industry, Eric and his wife Joy moved to Byford five years ago and they immediately found connection with the Probus Club of Byford and Districts.

As well as keeping his mind alert, Eric describes Probus as a place where strangers become friends.

The Club organises many activities including tours, walks and guest speakers and he says it’s the perfect way to stay active in the community while enjoying the fellowship of a gathering of friends.

You can find out more about Probus by visiting the website here. 

Trevor Starcevich

Meet Serpentine resident Trevor Starcevich. Being a self-employed project manager and the benefits of country living are what drew him and wife Linda to the rural setting of Serpentine for their next stage of life.

Trevor believes that “you don’t die from work, you die from not working”, which is why he always has a project underway.

Being a member of the Serpentine Volunteer Bushfire Brigade also keeps him on the go and connected to his community.

Trevor has some exciting goals for his future – live to 120, join senior athletics, and a caravan trip around Australia.

To help him achieve this, he has three simple rules that keep him happy and healthy: have someone to love, have something to look forward to, and have a purpose in life.

If you’d like to gain some new skills and help build resilience in your community, contact one of the Shire’s Volunteer Bushfire Brigades to find out more here. 

Reece Jerrett

Meet Reece Jerrett, whose passion for biology and the native environment has led him to work at Landcare SJ as a Natural Resource Management Officer.

As well as a keen environmentalist, Reece is also a champion exhibition poultry breeder! It all started back in 2008 with a visit to Mundijong Markets that resulted in him adding his first lot of poultry to the family property.

Reece is now the President of the only club in the Peel region, the Waroona Poultry Club, and he says that being involved in animal agriculture and Landcare has helped him connect with many different types of people within the community.

It’s also allowed him to build a national network of supportive friends whilst maintaining a connection with the natural world.

Landcare SJ are always looking for volunteers to join local groups and to help at their regular tree-planting days they run each year in Winter and early Spring. Visit their website for more information here.

Thank you Reece for sharing your story on Wear Blue Day, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of male health and to encourage men to live longer and healthier, as part of Men’s Health Week celebrations.