Welcome to Menergy 2026. We are delighted you are joining us.
Every man is welcome at Menergy. Older, younger, straight, queer, whatever your culture, belief system, financial circumstances, or politics. If you identify as male, you are welcome. We ask only that you bring an open mind and an open heart.
If this is your first men’s gathering, you may feel excited, and also anxious and uncertain. This is normal, and many returning men also experience these feelings. You are not alone!
Remember that Menergy is about choice. You choose what you want to do. You can go to a workshop, or take some quiet personal time for reflection, walk, relax, sit by the fire, or spend time talking to new men and making friends. It’s completely up to you. On arrival you will be allocated a cabin and Tribal group. There’s plenty of space to camp if you prefer to bring your swag or tent. All meals (breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner) are provided. If you have dietary needs you did not specify in your registration, please let us know. Please don’t sample from the dietary restricted items as these are needed by the men with food intolerances!
If you are new to men’s gatherings like Menergy, you may be unfamiliar with ritual and ceremonial activities and their purpose. Our rituals and ceremonies are safe and purposeful. We ask that you participate in them with respect and curiosity. They include activities and practices such as:
These rituals and ceremonies can help men move beyond thinking and ideas (head); and into feeling, presence and connection (heart). You may see these practices as symbolic gestures or as acts of deep metaphysical and spiritual significance. It doesn’t matter! We simply invite you to ‘lean in’ and participate as fully as you feel able.
Menergy invites you to participate and explore. It’s your decision how deeply you participate in ceremonies and rituals. If you would like to discuss anything about the rituals and ceremonies, your Tribal Group is an excellent place to begin.
For thousands of years, fire has had a special place in the lives of men. You have likely experienced that deep feeling of calmness and contemplation while sitting around a fire. At Menergy there are two fires. The Hearth Fire near the Hall, and the Sacred Fire by the River. On Thursday evening the Opening Ceremony will be held at the Hearth Fire. It will be lit at the Opening Ceremony and will be extinguished at the Closing Ceremony. This fire is like a campfire. Here you are encouraged to gather, hang out, chat with other men, play music and do whatever takes your fancy. We are all responsible for this fire so if the fire is getting low, please feel free to put some wood on it.
The Sacred Fire is the spiritual epicentre of Menergy. The Sacred Fire is not a place for idle conversation. It is a place for reflection, contemplation, a place of quiet and reverence. Selected men will tend the Sacred Fire on behalf of us all. Under their direction, you are welcome to join them in that task.
All fires are pure. This means no rubbish is to be put in the fires.
The Menergy Committee welcomes all elders to Menergy. We welcome men 50 years and older and acknowledge the wisdom that comes through experience. We also welcome men who have made a major contribution to our community over the years through their work on Menergy Committees and in other ways.
Elders will be acknowledged at Menergy, and we will take the opportunity to hear from them during the gathering. We encourage young men to take the opportunity to engage with older men at Menergy.
An Altar will be created in the Menergy Dining Hall. Every man is encouraged to bring something from home to contribute to this Altar. It might remind you of who you are, who you love or what you love. It will be something of special meaning or significance to you. Bring whatever it is and honour it on the Altar.
Menergy welcomes males of diversity and those identifying as Gay, Bisexual, Heterosexual, Intersex, Asexual, Queer and Transmen. Everyone identifying as male should feel that Menergy is SAFE, WELCOMING and INCLUSIVE, where everyone can be comfortable being themselves.
For our GBQTIA+ men, that means a respectful environment where everyone is treated equally, feels included and valued. We expect all participants to include GBQTIA+ diversity in their language in public space to account for those identifying as male. We also ask that participants avoid assumptions regarding a person’s anatomy, gender or sexual preferences.
We see these events as a time to share heartfelt connections with a diverse range of males and to gain insight and understanding into all expressions of masculinity.
Confidentiality allows radically honest and vulnerable sharing. Hearing another man’s story is a privilege. We are privileged to have that man’s trust. Other men’s stories are not ours to share. Please share your story, but not the stories of other men.
There are two exceptions to the above:
If you are emotionally affected by what you hear, you may need to talk to an Emotional Support Person (ESP). You can share what you need with the ESP, so they can provide necessary support and assistance to you.
If what a man shares makes you worried about that man’s safety or the safety of another person then you can share that with an ESP or a Committee Man. They will determine the appropriate action to be taken.
Confidentiality also extends to photography. We prefer you don’t take photos at Menergy. If you have the express consent of a man or men to take a photo, then you may do so, but you must ensure the photo does not capture the image of any other men.
There will be an official photographer at Menergy and he will be introduced on Friday night. Inclusion in any photos or videos is voluntary and our photographer will seek your permission before any shots.
By tradition, a group photo is taken after the Closing Ceremony on Sunday afternoon. Participation in this photo is voluntary and everyone participating will be deemed to have given consent to their image being published. Unless otherwise communicated, there will be no photography or videography during ceremonies.
Please assist with the after-meal clean-up by taking your plates and cutlery to the cleaning area, scraping your plates and tidying the table as you leave. It all helps. A washing crew will wash and dry your plates and cutlery ready for the next meal.
When we are all packed in the hall talking it can be difficult to get everyone’s attention. The solution is that when a man is seeking the attention of everyone, he puts his hand up, others follow the lead and soon there is quiet.
This is our way of respectfully creating silence when it’s needed, without a whole lot of yelling and whistling. When you see a man put his hand up, it’s your cue to suspend your conversation and put your hand up. Within a few seconds every hand will be raised, and the room will be silent. It works a treat! It’s pretty cool to see (and hear), and it helps us keep things moving.
Although Licola now has Telstra mobile coverage, consider whether you really need to use your phone? Menergy is a great opportunity to get electronically disconnected and emotionally connected. If you MUST make a call then please do so in the car park, away from others. There is a payphone across the road in front of the general store if you need to reach home or contact loved ones.
If you need to give a number to loved ones so they can contact you in an emergency, give them 0498 835 268 and the Leadership Circle will get a message to you.
If you smoke, then please smoke well away from others. Take care to properly dispose of any butts and don’t put them in the fire, as the fires are to be free from all rubbish. Thanks!
Menergy provides a safe and Sacred Space where every man is encouraged to be present with himself, and available to connect authentically with others. To support this important intent Menergy is drug and alcohol free. Please strictly respect this. Of course this does not apply to prescribed drugs.