An invitation to challenge yourself. Take time out, reflect and revitalize your life journey at our Men’s Renewal Retreat in the Northern Tasmanian Wilderness, from 19- 21 July 2024.
OK, its not for everyone, but it might be just the challenge and adventure that you need. It will be a small group of 14 men led by two skilled facilitators Paddy and Dave, check out their bios below.
Renew or upskill your mindfulness practice and reflection skills as we unpack stale narratives or stories, that may have passed their use by date, and discover more useful ones. Learn the powerful work done in men’s circles and how to facilitate them, and to reconnect with the restorative energy of Tasmania’s forest wilderness.
Is this retreat right for you? Are you looking for some constructive time out and renewal? Are you curious and up for a sense of adventure and challenge? Are you willing to step into being open with others and share your thoughts and feelings? It might feel a bit scary but do you want in? Are you willing to work in a group setting and listen to other men respectfully? If this sounds like you then read on.
Men’s Renewal Retreat
Northern Tasmania Wilderness
Frid. 19 – Sunday 21, July 2024
Retreat Facilitators:- Paddy Murray and David Reynolds, both trained counsellors with years of experience working with men.
Purpose:– Rest – Reflection – Renewal
Rest:- Time out from your everyday life in a superb setting with a small group of supportive men. Inquiries: mob: 0427837830, email: [email protected]
Reflection: – Looking at where you are now and what might be holding you back in the journey.
Renewal: – Engaging in a powerful life planning exercise with support and coaching on achieving goals.
Programme and Method
The retreat will have a maximum number of 14 men. The main focus will be working in a circle, using the 12 agreement model, click here, as a framework. There will be a variety of exercises including work in the surrounding forests. Our focus will be on creating a safe space, with interesting and active ways of working with each other. There will not be any aggressive or high-risk activities. Activities such as meditation, relaxation, forest walks, role plays and sound baths will be involved.
The retreat starts at 5pm on Friday with registration and accommodation. Men are encouraged to arrive earlier, if possible, to settle in, relax and get to know the other men. Dinner is at 6.30pm followed by an evening circle introduction session. Breakfast is at 8.15 am with optional activities for early risers beforehand. Saturday night finishes at 9pm and the retreat finishes mid-afternoon on Sunday. Men are welcome to stay over on Sunday night for an early morning start on Monday.
Travel: – There is no public transport to the retreat centre. Men will need to travel by car, rides with other men can be organised where possible once bookings are made. The centre is 2 hours by car from Launceston airport and cars can be rented there. We can organise a larger car for group rental, again once the bookings are in. Car rental will be at the attendee’s cost unless a local is prepared to volunteer for an airport pickup, which we will encourage.
Accommodation: There are a variety of huts and cabins, with separate toilet and showers. You will need to bring your own bedding and warm clothes. It will be cold in July, so bring beanies, scarves, warm jackets and long johns. Don’t forget a pair of warm socks for walking inside without shoes. Also bring hand or head torches. If you need to sit on a chair in circle, bring your own folding chair. If coming from interstate one can be purchased for you. If you bring your swag, you might be able to sleep near a wood fire.
Food: There is a dining room and kitchen. We aim to have a couple of volunteers in the kitchen with assistance from a local cook. Men will be expected to help at meal times. All food will be provided, ground coffee tea bikkies. The menu will be vegetarian, with lots of local homemade sourdough bread. If you have special dietary requirements, you can either bring your own food or negotiate with us to provide them. You will have use of the kitchen. Inquiries: mob: 0427837830, email: [email protected]
The Retreat Centre:- Is called Dorje Ling a 40 acre site in the forests of Lorinna. It started 40 years ago as a hippy Buddhist commune, then called Illusion farm. It is a collection of huts, houses and dining facility, solar electricity, water, toilets and showers. It is now used as a retreat centre and has no one living there but the caretaker. Its address is 1078 Lorinna Rd, Lorinna TAS 7306. The centre is owned by the Hobart Buddhist Meditation Centre.
Cost and Registration: – The retreat is open to men of any ethnicity, faith or sexuality. All interested men, will have an interview to ascertain whether the retreat is a suitable fit for them. The director will be available to chat via phone or video to answer any queries. An agreement form will need to be completed.
This event is being carried out on a non-profit basis, so will be based on costs which are $300 per person which will be the fee to pay. The facilitators are not charging for their time. There will be an option for participants to offer a contribution to the facilitators efforts to allow them to continue this work. This is a Buddhist tradition called Dana, where teachers never charge for their services but allow the community to contribute to their upkeep. This concept prioritizes low cost to ensure accessibility for a wide variety of men.
Insurance and Oversight: – The site owners have public liability insurance for the retreat centre. The Man Alive Network a Non-profit Incorporated Association is auspicing the event providing coverage with its own event insurance and broad project oversight. MAN Inc. has extensive experience and skills running men’s events. Paddy Murray is the retreat director and is responsible for it.
Skills for facilitating Men’s Groups: – Paddy is a leading trainer in teaching facilitation of men’s groups. His comprehensive manual, published internationally, on facilitation skills will be given to all participants. Those interested in learning or upgrading their skills in facilitation can read up about it and see it in action over the retreat. A session on facilitation will be held for those interested.
Retreat Directors:-
Paddy Murray: – Started as an economist and consultant and then moved to construction, blacksmithing, rural contracting. . He then focussed on working with men, starting with setting up a large homeless men’s accommodation project. He trained as a masseur and yoga teacher and then gained a counselling graduate diploma from the University of Canberra. He has worked for the government on PTSD programmes for veterans and working with behaviour change programmes for domestic violence perpetrators. He then worked as a Buddhist prison chaplain in a maximum-security facility Inquiries: mob: 0427837830, email: [email protected]
for 5 years. He has run several workshops, including ‘Soul Food For Men’, ‘Dancing With The Angel of Death’ and ‘The Wisdom Stone Journey, Life Planning for Men’. He is the author of a manual ‘Facilitating Mens Groups’ used worldwide for training facilitators.
Dave Reynolds: –
Dave is a qualified Gestalt psychotherapist with over 20 years of facilitating group work, men’s work, sound baths and sound healing. He loves to support personal growth and development and uses a variety of instruments to create and hold sacred space. Dave has been working in the Drug and Alcohol field for the last 15 years and is a full-time trainer leading adult education sessions for sector workers and working with men in and around the prison system.
Dave has been playing the yidaki or didgeridoo for 30 years and has received permission from traditional owners in Arnhem Land to use the instrument in healing spaces. He combines the yidaki with Handpan, djembe, crystal singing bowls and Native American Flute to create and hold sacred and ceremonial spaces for personal exploration and transformation.
