THEY say breakfast is the most important meal of the day and for a bunch of local blokes - and some from further afield - this is certainly so when they get together once a month in Euroa.

The Euroa Men’s Breakfast which began prior to COVID has continued to grow and attract regular attendees for an early morning catchup with other men of all ages and backgrounds on the last Saturday of each month.

The breakfast is an informal drop in event where men pay $15 per head for a generous cooked meal with all the trimmings provided by volunteer cooks Melissa Wallace and partner Jason, together with her daughter Leah Rose.

Melissa, who prefers to remain behind the scenes, recognised the need for a place where men on their own could gather over a meal while she was running the Euroa Jumping Jumbuck restaurant more than seven years ago, according to men’s breakfast liaison volunteer Kevin McFarlane.

It started with one man who would turn up for breakfast before the restaurant was officially opened and Melissa would serve him because she saw he was on his own.

Then this man started to bring others with him for an early breakfast.

From this humble beginning the Euroa Men’s Breakfast group was created as somewhere to connect socially and enjoy a good yarn.

Sadly, the COVID pandemic forced the closure of the restaurant and put the breakfast on hold, Kevin said.

When restrictions were lifted the St John’s Catholic Church offered free use of its hall so the breakfast could continue.

Such was the popularity of the breakfast as word got around that the volunteers needed to find an alternative venue to accommodate everyone.

“We have had over 100 participants with 35 to 48 regularly attending each month with ages ranging from 40 to 92,” said Kevin.

Once again community spirit came to the fore with the Euroa CFA making its facility and kitchen available.

“The community input is much appreciated especially the support of the Catholic church and the CFA, but we are really looking for a new venue so we can expand to cope with the growing number of men wanting to join us,” said Kevin.

Other valuable community contributions he noted were from Euroa Health, Kinross Farms who donate the eggs and the Bowerbird Op Shop.

The breakfast attracts not only local men but also from Merton, Bright and a couple from Melbourne who regularly attend.

“There is no agenda, just somewhere where blokes can be blokes,” said Kevin.

“There is a sense of belonging and connection, with men more likely to look out for each other."

Since the group’s inception many men have found common interests with one another, and new friendships have developed with several participants meeting outside the breakfast program.

One example of this was the suggestion of “show and tell” said Kevin, where men had to guess what certain items were and the story behind them.

Another was an avid book reader introducing others to reading and sharing their “best reads”.

The breakfast sometimes includes short talks from interesting individuals from all walks of life, some are elite sportsmen or just community members with good stories.

However, the breakfast is definitely an act of goodwill and only made possible with the hard work of the cooks Melissa, Leah Rose and Jason over many years, said Kevin.

The next breakfast will be held on Saturday June 28 at the Euroa CFA.

All are welcome.