Dragons Named Presenting Partner for 2026 Healthier Illawarra Men International Men’s Day Lunch
The St George Illawarra Dragons have returned as Major Partner of the Healthier Illawarra Men International Men’s Day Lunch for a second year, with tickets now on sale for the November event featuring Gold Logie winner and Love Your Sister founder Samuel Johnson AM.
The partnership is being officially announced today at the Dragons’ Bruce Gordon Centre, with Dragons CEO Tim Watsford and Healthier Illawarra Men (HIM) International Men’s Day Committee Chair Mark Upton, joined by players from the club’s NRL and NRLW teams.
Dragons CEO Tim Watsford said the club was proud to continue supporting HIM and the work it is doing across the region.
“Healthier Illawarra Men has built something genuinely connected to this community, and we’re pleased to stand alongside them again in 2026,” Mr Watsford said.
“As a club, we know the influence sport can have in bringing people together and sparking conversations that matter. Men’s health, mental wellbeing and the role families and loved ones play in supporting each other are all conversations we’re proud to support.”
“The ‘Bring Your Sister’ idea adds another dimension to this year’s lunch, and we think it will really resonate with people across the Illawarra.”
HIM’s Internatioal Men’s Day Lunch Committee Chair Mark Upton said the Dragons’ return as Major Partner was an important show of support for HIM and its work across the Illawarra.
“The Dragons are an important part of this community and having them behind the lunch again gives us a great platform to reach more men and their families,” Mr Upton said.
“And this year we want to change the room a little bit.
“International Men’s Day has traditionally been a room dominated by men. With Samuel joining us, we saw an opportunity to build on the Love Your Sister idea and to encourage men to bring one of the important women in their lives.
“The women around us are often the ones who encourage us to go to the doctor, check that we’re okay, support us when things aren’t going well, and have the conversations we sometimes avoid.”
“So, when we say, ‘Bring Your Sister’, we mean the woman who matters to you.”
This year’s HIM International Men’s Day Lunch will be held at the University of Wollongong Hall on Friday, November 13, with the theme “Bring Your Sister”.
Inspired by Johnson’s Love Your Sister charity, the concept encourages men attending the lunch to bring an important woman in their life, whether that’s a sister, wife or partner, daughter, mum, friend or colleague.
To purchase tickets for the event, please click here.
