When it comes to mental health, some people are too manly. Too manly in the sense that they struggle in silence.
Topics hears that Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic dropped into Newcastle last week and helped raise a bunch of money for Lifeline.
Tommy Turbo touched on the importance of reaching out for help when you need it.
Tom is obviously quite manly and Manly, if that makes sense.
He was manly enough to come to Newcastle, where a lot of people hate Manly.
People might hate Manly, but they do love Tom.
He spoke at Merewether Surf House about the tough year so many people have had and how mental health is a huge issue right across the community.
Oh, he also talked about how good Kalyn Ponga was and how he didn't mind that most NRL fans hated Manly. He joked that they hated everyone back. That got a good laugh. Which is a good thing because humour is apparently very good for mental health.
Lots of movers and shakers [some manly, some womanly] from the business community attended the event. Tommy Turbo donated his Blues jersey from Origin Game 1 this year, where he scored three tries.
He also donated a Manly jersey, plus a pair of his footy boots. [How very manly!]
Each of them fetched thousands of dollars in the charity auction at the end of a fundraiser lunch.
The turbo-charged fundraiser did well. All up, more than $32,000 was raised.
Coke Is Not It
The AFP [Australian Federal Police] announced on Monday that cocaine seized in Australia had tested positive for dangerous animal worming agents and a pharmaceutical that was withdrawn decades ago for causing cancer.
Paula Hudson, of the AFP, said illicit drugs were "often cut to a low purity using a range of potent chemicals and fillers".
"Levamisole - an animal worming agent that can cause serious skin infections in humans - is often detected in cocaine, which is mainly produced in the Americas," she said.
"Phenacetin, a drug that is banned in most countries because it causes cancer and damages kidneys, is also being added to cocaine in a bid to boost the profits of illicit drug dealers."
The AFP estimated that Australians consume about 5.6 tonnes of cocaine a year.
"Cocaine consumption in Australia has grown by more than 80 per cent in the past five years, matched by about a 50 per cent increase in coca plant cultivation and potential cocaine production in Colombia and Peru over that same period."
So for those thinking of having a "white Christmas", maybe think again.
Joke of the Day
How do you make sports more manly? Add a second ball.
- topics@newcastleherald.com.au
