Healthier Illawarra International Men's Day Lunch 2025 featuring Lord Ian Botham OBE

Friday, November 14, 2025

Venue: UOW Uni Hall

Healthier Illawarra Men will host its fourth annual International Men's Day Lunch. This year's event promises to be extra special with an international sporting icon! Tickets on sale in August. 

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Special guest

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Lord Ian Botham OBE

Lord Ian Botham OBE, affectionately known as "Beefy," is one of the greatest and most charismatic players in English cricket history. Botham’s mantra was simple, he played hard on the field and played to win but always shared a drink with his competitors after the match.

A cricket legend renowned for his fierce competitiveness and one of England's most iconic all-rounders, Botham is celebrated for his ability to single-handedly change the course of Test matches and is perhaps the best all-rounder the game has ever seen. In his 102 Test matches, Botham scored 5000 runs, including 14 centuries, took 383 wickets, and 120 catches. In the 1980s, Botham was the only genuine match winner England had in their side.

Botham had an uncanny ability to turn a match single handedly with bat or ball. In the 1981 Ashes series he won two games in such fashion and many began referring to the series as Botham’s Ashes. He earned fame and attention in England, a country that at that time was starved of heroes but Botham always saved his best for his favourite opposition; Australia.

Off the pitch, Botham is a dedicated philanthropist who has raised over £20 million for leukaemia and diabetes charities through his renowned charity walks. A former Sky Sports commentator, Botham is now an accomplished winemaker and serves as a trade envoy between Australia and the UK, promoting business relations. His leadership and passion continue to inspire across industries while continuing his media and charity work in both countries.

Our event host

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Bruce Roberts

A journalist and newsreader with WIN News, anchoring the Network’s news bulletins in the Illawarra, Canberra, regional Victoria and Tasmania.​
As a senior member of the WIN News team, Bruce is passionate about delivering regional audiences a full half hour of local news, sport and weather every weeknight on the WIN Network.​
During his time at WIN, Bruce has anchored more than 18,000 prime-time bulletins and written countless stories on a wide range of topics affecting regional viewers.​
After graduating from the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) in 1990, Bruce worked for the Seven Network, BBC and Sky Sports before joining the WIN News team.​
Bruce holds both a Graduate Diploma (2010) and a Master’s degree in Journalism from Charles Sturt University. ​
Away from the news desk, Bruce is often recognised as a talented MC, hosting various events from charity galas to sporting functions and awards ceremonies. ​
He has a deep passion for military causes and emceed numerous services for state and local RSLs, the national POW Memorial, Legacy and the Weary Dunlop Foundation.​
Bruce has been open about his own health challenges.  He encourages all men to see their GP regularly to stay on top of their health no matter what age they are.

 

The venue

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