International Men’s Day was first promoted by former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev and was supported by the United Nations in Vienna. The day has been celebrated since 1999 in various countries on different Dates. In 2007 the Indian Men and Fathers Movement began a campaign to build consensus for the celebration of International Men’s Day on November 19th. Australian men are encouraging other nations to join with them on November 19th in celebrating the contribution men make to those around them, their family and friends, their workplace and the community, nations and the world.

For Australia the 19th November is a very significant day as it marks the sinking of the HMAS Sydney in the Second World War. The day commemorates the largest loss of life in battle on any one day in the second World War, with the death of 645 men off the coast of Western Australia. That is why the theme for this year’s celebrations in Australia is “honour and sacrifice”. Men in times of war are routinely called upon to make that sacrifice, whereas women do it if they happen to feel like it.

The ability to sacrifice your needs on behalf of others is fundamental to manhood, as is honour. Men make sacrifices everyday in their place of work, in their role as husbands and fathers, for their families, for their friends, for their communities and for their nation. International Men’s Day is an opportunity for people of goodwill everywhere to appreciate and celebrate the men in their lives and the contribution they make to society for the greater good of all.