-ABOUT US-
Biggest Ever Blokes’ Lunch aims to raise funds and increase awareness of prostate cancer to reduce the impact on Australian men, their partners and families.
Prostate Cancer in Australia
- Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia and the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Australian men.
- 26,368 Australian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2024.
- 3,901 Australian men will die from prostate cancer in 2024.
- Around 72 Australian men are diagnosed each day with prostate cancer, and more than 11 Australian men will die each day from the disease.
- 250,958 Australian men are alive today after a diagnosis of prostate cancer between 1982 and 2018.
- Men diagnosed with prostate cancer have a 95.8% chance of surviving for five years compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population.
- Between 1982 and 2018, five-year relative survival for prostate cancer improved from 58% to 95.8%.
The lunches started in Shepparton in 2009 after one bloke, the late Chris McPherson AM, found out he had incurable prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men and Chris wanted to persuade other blokes to take responsibility for their health and get checked. Since its inception in 2009, a total of 39,000 people have attended lunches and more than $5.4million has been raised for PCFA.
This year’s lunch will be held on Friday 5th September 2025 at the Mercure Ballarat Hotel and Convention Centre, attended by 450-500 men at each event and include updates from Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, highly entertaining guest speakers, raffles, auctions and other fundraising activities.
The event supports Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia
and local charities in Ballarat with a particular focus on men’s health.
- There are 1,392 men in the region who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
- An estimated 132 men in the region will be newly diagnosed this year.
- Men in the Ballarat region have a 12% lower risk of diagnosis compared to the population average.
- Men in the Ballarat region have a 44% increased risk of death compared to the population average.
- Only 15% of men in the Ballarat region are diagnosed at Stage 1, when the prospects for survival are the strongest.
-SPEAKERS-
STEVEN BRADBURY
KEYNOTE SPEAKER & MC
Steven Bradbury OAM is an esteemed Australian sports icon and motivational speaker, celebrated for his historic victory at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
As a former track speed skater and four-time Olympian, Steven made history by clinching the 1,000m event, becoming Australia and the Southern Hemisphere’s inaugural Winter Olympic Gold Medallist.
His triumph, famously known as “doing a Bradbury”, embodies the spirit of perseverance and unexpected success against formidable odds.
DAVE O'NEIL
SPEAKER
Dave O’Neil has been in comedy for over 30 years and is one of Australia’s most recognisable stand up comics.
Dave has appeared on numerous Australian television shows including Hughesy, We Have A Problem, Have You Been Paying Attention?, The Project, The Yearly, Agony, Utopia, Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation, The Panel and The Fat. He is probably most well-known for the honour of being the guest with the most appearances on ABC TV’s ever-popular Spicks & Specks.
-MAJOR SPONSOR-
A SPECIAL THANK YOU
We welcome on board our new Major Sponsor for 2025, Stylerite Windows and Doors, a local business that has been a valued supporter of our lunch for many years. Experienced licensed fabricators of architecturally designed and high performance aluminium window and door systems, check out their brand new showroom located at 21 Trewin Street, Wendouree.
Please support those who support us.
