Trevor Lowder was mowing his lawn one afternoon, when his neighbour passed a beer over the fence.
What was probably going to be a two-minute chat, turned into a three hour conversation.
“What started with ‘your lawn’s looking good mate’ and ‘how’s that score in the footy last night?’ became a moment when I learnt more about his life,” Mr Lowder said.
And so a crafty idea was born from his garage.
The Lilli Pilli founder of Craft Beer Coopery launched a start-up business that aims to promote positive mental health among men.
His company is an online subscription service where people can sign up for $49.95 a month and receive a box of nine curated beers.
Inside the box are light-hearted beer notes, nuts or beef jerky and R U OK? coasters to encourage the importance of a social chat or simply checking in with someone.
The idea is to bring mates together to share a few cold beers or send a box to someone who may feel isolated.
This is a personal journey combined with a gap in the market, Mr Lowder says.
He was diagnosed with anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression after seeing his younger brother get fatally electrocuted on a sailing trip in 1997.
“There was a lot of grief,” he said.
“I progressed through as best I could but I was certainly far too ashamed of what I perceived as weakness to share my feelings.
“Things rapidly became worse and I arrived at the point where I felt I could no longer go on.
“I reached out to my wife. Help came, but so did the stigma.”
Mr Lowder is in a better place, and wants to inspire others.
“It’s not about having a beer, but having a beer together,” he said.
“Guys don’t talk about their emotions and you can’t force these conversations, but you can make people aware of them.
“My wife went through thyroid cancer and all her friends rallied around her and had coffee all the time. Guys don't do that.
“This is a nice Aussie approach to a serious issue.”
Mr Lowder says he encourages consumption in moderation and acknowledges the negative impact that excessive alcohol consumption can have.
“I’ve been quite clear on alcohol and depression having a fine line, but it’s unlikely to have a bender on nine beers, and the boxes aren’t set up that way.
“When enjoyed in moderation this can be a great thing, and the ear of a mate can be a great gift.”
