Leading Social Change
Lazarus Manbulloo, not yet 30 years old, has worked tirelessly to overcome the struggling and despair of men living in Jawoyn Country around Katherine NT. He is bringing cultural songlines back to life, founded a culturally-led men’s support group, established a calendar of cultural events for men and, alongside other leaders in the Jawoyn community, spearheaded the creation of a unique culturally led mental health space for men. He has achieved all of this in the face of his own grief, overwhelm and loneliness, a feat he credits to the power of Culture and Country.
This story is for anyone seeking to find courage to lead social change for community.
THE NOMINATION
Pip Gordon and her young family set off to travel around Australia in 2014. The family stopped in Katherine NT and never left. In that time Pip has met many inspirational locals and leaders, but the courage of one young man named Lazarus Manbulloo stands out.
Lazarus is a young Jawoyn man who grew up in Kalano, an Aboriginal Community on the river bank, bordering Katherine town. I first met him shortly after I started working for the Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup (Kriol for Strong Women’s Group).
Banatjarl is a women’s group, created and led by Elders and part of the Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation in Katherine.
In the NT there are all these non-indigenous service providers placed into the Communities with no real understanding of Aboriginal people and the complexities of their lives. Banatjarl has been around about 30 years, with a vision to create positive change for women and families living in Jawoyn Country, but without sustainable funding.
When Covid hit we thought the funding would dry up completely and this strong Elders group would disappear. Desperation makes you do things you might not otherwise do. We went into direct competition with the non-indigenous service providers and became the first Aboriginal cultural community-led organisation to get government money to solely run a family support service. We’ve had amazing results.
At that time, Lazarus was working for the Jawoyn Association in media. He heard the women keep saying they needed to work side-by-side with men to make real, effective change. Laz was this lone man who leaned into a group of women and said, “I’ll pick up the torch and I’ll go find the men.”
“I’ll pick up the torch and I’ll go find the men.”
He started to go out into Community, organising forums and discussions. The communities are sometimes a 3-hour drive one way. He’d trek out by himself and look around, never quite knowing where to go or what to do other than start to ask questions. It took a lot of courage to just show up on people’s doorsteps.
When you go into Community, it’s serious business. You don’t just go for a chat. The right protocols must be followed, and the right people must attend. He was only 25 years old, but he found the right people, followed the right protocols and organised many meetings.
He went into those meetings to bravely talk about the big issues facing Aboriginal men. “Can we talk about violence?” “Can we talk about drug and alcohol issues?” “Can we talk about our disconnection from culture?” “Can we talk about why we feel so depressed?” “Can we talk about why Aboriginal men are suiciding?”
He had those difficult conversations on his own. And he did it at the same time as he lost his mother. He did it even though he has rheumatic heart fever, diabetes and other health conditions.
Eventually, men from all over Jawoyn Country started saying, “We want you to lead us in a men’s group.” The Elders were telling this young man, “We want you.” He had no funding and no car, but he borrowed a car and got started, picking up young fellas along the way.
From a small grant to fund a project called Reconnecting Songlines, he’s gone on the start the Mungguy Mans Group. He’s held camps and forums, including a huge men’s forum last August and established a Homeland for the men. The Mungguy Mans Grup and Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup now hold weekly cultural activities and most recently they joined forces to establish the first Indigenous led Mental Health Space.
He’s brought together all these communities of men, including Elders, who look to him for leadership. But he’s a single father with a 6-year-old son living in an often-overcrowded house in a remote community. He’s now lost two sisters, as well as his mother. I’ve heard him say, “Why me? I don’t want to be the one to do this. I just want to go hunting. I should be looking after my son.” He gets so down. And then he turns to the women and asks for help. That he can come to us and say, “I’m really struggling.” That’s courage.
His courage gives me courage.
His courage gives me courage. We’re all in uncharted territory at times. We’re all unsure. So when he says that he’s overwhelmed, that he’s not sure how to put down his grief, yet still comes back and says, “No, I’m going to find strength and keep doing this.” That completely inspires me.
LAZARUS
I see men struggle…big time. I see fellas out there, they’ve kind of lost their spirit.
I had my mental breakdown when I lost a loved one. Having all this grief coming through me, I felt sick. To break that sickness, I went on Country.
I went back to my grandmother’s Homeland. I just kept swimming to clear my mind and be grounded. I spoke to the old people. My grandmother made fire and put her hand out on that flame. Her hand started getting warmer and warmer and warmer. She brought her hand straight to my heart. I was healed.
The big issue in our community is suicide.
The big issue in our community is suicide. I’ve had my own breakdown, and I see it a lot. I wanted men to have more cultural activity out on Country, like the Banatjarl women’s group was doing. So I said to Pip, “I want to make a men’s group” and we started looking for some funding.
Our first camp was reconnecting song line from the different Jawoyn regions. When I grew up in Community, I saw no Culture happening. Our river system connects our Songline, so I went around the different communities. I talked to the men Elders and asked, “Why don’t we see our mob dancing our Culture?” and asked for help to get the Jawoyn Songline back up and running. The Elders said, “good luck” but they thought I would not get the Songline back.
I went to a Community at the end of the river system, on the banks of the Daly River. I spoke to two Elders, and they had a recording. They told me, “See these old people singing? That’s all you mob, that’s Jawoyn, in older times.” I felt pride and had tears of joy. I thought the song was lost. I was so grateful when I heard them singing.
My first connecting song gathering was here in Katherine and the Elders came and sang the song to us and now the song was alive again. All the Elders thanked me. Last year we took the reconnecting song to the Barunga Festival. So the Songline is out there now. My son, my niece, my nephew all dance that song now.
Last year, I hosted this massive one-week men’s forum out on my grandmother’s Homeland. I said, “Tell me what you want there?” One fella said, “I’m hard to save money.” Let’s bring in money management. Other fellas said, “We feel shame to go to the clinic.” All right, let’s bring in drug and alcohol services. All those services came in to talk to the fellas and after that we had a yarn and tell stories about men and the Songline. Then on Thursday night, the Homeland lit up with dancing and singing. I tell you I was so proud, and grateful to have my Elders behind me.
In 2024, we got some funding, and I went to New Zealand with some of the team from Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup and the Jawoyn rangers. We met a couple who ran a mental health practice that had both clinical and cultural care, and we knew they were on the right track. I came back and said to Pip, “I want to make walk in talk in space for our mob to come in for help.”
“I want to make walk in talk in space for our mob to come in for help.”
This month (May 2025) we launched the Strongbala Men’s Walk In Talk In Space right in the centre of our local shopping square. When our mob come in, we ask them what they want to try first: a cultural way or a psychologist. The cultural way is our way. We speak it out on Country. We call out for help. Country is medicine.
My father asked me do I need a day off, a holiday. Not today. Not this month. Not this year. I’m starting the Walk In Talk In space, I have a calendar of activities on Country, I’m doing community visits to check up on the fellas. I’ve got so much to achieve.
Taking on this big responsibility in my hand, sometimes I feel lonely.
Taking on this big responsibility in my hand, sometimes I feel lonely. There’s no one to help me. It’s hard out there in community. I’m switched on all the time and it’s hard to bring people along step by step.
But I am strong with my faith. I believe in myself. I grew up with a strong family who trusted me. I have culture around me. I go back to my Elders. I have my grandmother. I’m talking day and night with my two brothers. They’re my support and strength. They give me guidance. And I’ve got Country to keep me grounded.
To be honest, I’m turning 30 this year and I feel proud of myself, what I’ve done. I see my journey and I’m happy. That’s my courage.
Images from the Mungguy Mans Grup
