Main picture: Jett Hewson and his music mates stay connected over a beer and some laughs.

• Men’s Mental Health Muster 
• Eumundi Showgrounds
• November 16, 12pm
• $25 

You might know Jett Hewson as the Bundy-Rum-hat-toting larrikin and frontman of Sunshine Coast punk-rock supergroup The Drop Beers (pictured).

His band will take part in the Sunshine Coast’s first Men’s Mental Health Muster on November 16.

The showcase will see seven emerging bands take to the stage to raise money for men doing it tough.

Jett has experienced firsthand the devastating effect that suicide can have on a victim’s family and their community.

Throughout high school and in the years following, Jett lost “too many friends to suicide”.

“It’s something spoken about a lot, but not enough,” Jett says.

“And that goes for the public and also the people struggling, and most definitely in the music industry.”

The 24-year-old who attended Maroochydore State High School says the hardest loss was one of his mates who showed no signs that he was suffering.

“It was most unexpected, due to the fact any problems he was suffering were never spoken about, and out of nowhere he was gone.

“Even now, seeing and hearing about it still is an extremely difficult thing to deal with.”

Tickets to the Mens Mental Health Muster on November 16: https://events.humanitix.com/mens-mental-health-muster.

Check on your mates ‘even if they appear happy’

Jett now takes extra steps to check on his mates, asking them to go for a beer or coffee as a way to allow conversation to flow.

“It opened up my eyes to the importance of checking on mates, even when they appear happy.”

Jett’s experiences have also made him more open about his own struggles, and he now tells someone if he’s not coping.

“One thing I’ve found to help me with my mental health recently is going back to my roots and signing up at Maroochydore Oztag again.

“Just keeping active is so good for the mind, and having the ability to catch up with old teammates can help to stay connected.

“Another thing is just keeping really basic like hanging out with my bandmates in The Drop Beers, but without the guitars and drums.

“Just taking time outside of music to go to the pub with the lads for a beer or lunch.

“Same goes for spending time with my partner Jess in our down time, going to the movies, or having dinner somewhere nice.”

Tickets to the Mens Mental Health Muster on November 16: https://events.humanitix.com/mens-mental-health-muster.

A showcase of the Coast’s best musicians

Jett has wanted to put on a show featuring the Coast’s cream of the crop in music, after falling in love with the tight-nit community he joined in 2022.

“The Beers were formed based off how tight the community is on the Coast, with me and Connor Hanson starting the group.

“We hand-selected each member, making sure each one doesn’t play in a band together already.”

They wanted to defy music industry cliques, by spreading the love around and forcing members to associate with others in the community.

So when Jett came across Eumundi mental health organisation The Journey Men, after its founder Will McIntyre put a call out on social media, he knew he couldn’t say no.

“The mental health factor especially caught my attention, because I have seen firsthand how detrimental it can be especially when it comes to young men.”

Jett wants his music mates to take care of themselves, especially in the current times with music festivals shutting down across the country due to the rise in living costs.

“It takes its toll when you are doing everything you can to put your product out there in the world.”

Jett hopes locals from across the Coast will get behind the music muster and make it a “meaningful day” on the music calendar.

“This event is a celebration of community spirit.

“Come and be part of this day as we gather for a cause that impacts so many lives.

“Together, we aim to raise awareness for men’s mental health, a topic that deserves more conversation and attention.

“Let’s make a difference, one note at a time.”

Tickets to the Mens Mental Health Muster on November 16: https://events.humanitix.com/mens-mental-health-muster.

Journeyman supporting more than 400 brothers

The Journeyman founder Will McIntyre supports more than 400 local men doing it tough.

Will kicked off his Yandina not-for-profit organisation in 2022, after finding his online tribe in a spiritual group on Facebook.

It all started with a barbecue he organised, which was attended by six people, and has now grown into weekly events and other major fundraising initiatives.

“The money raised will go towards our community centre that we are putting together in the Eumundi Heart Hub,” Will says.

“I can see the local musicians are struggling.

“We not only support men’s mental health, but allow musicians to show off their skills at the community centre.”

Will’s organisation is tackling mental health by building community bonds and trust, which creates a friendlier and more supportive society.

The Journeymen also strives to empower its members to lead more productive and fulfilling lives, by promoting wellbeing through a nurturing environment and educational opportunities.

“I believe music is one of the best gateways to connect people.

“We need to bring culture back, to give kids a pathway.”

Will is hoping the music muster will become a popular local event, with his hopes set on selling 1000 tickets to the inaugural event.

If it takes off, he plans to host several more mini festivals in different genres every year.

Bringing Thailand values of community to Australia

Will, who was raised in Thailand, says he wants to bring the village experience of his childhood to his practice in helping men.

“Growing up there, I experienced firsthand the strength of community,” he says.

“Monks would gather food from the community in the morning, and by day’s end, any excess would be used to support others.

“This taught me that as collective we have abandon but as an individual, we have nothing.”

Will says music has always helped him to heal through his hardest times.

“I might be old-fashioned, but when I go through a hard time I listen to music and it changes my mood.

“Music helps you feel the emotion.”

You can read more about Will’s work here: https://journeysmen.com/.

Tickets to the Mens Mental Health Muster on November 16: https://events.humanitix.com/mens-mental-health-muster.