Hunter New England Health is inviting men to put their bodies over the pits at the Waterfront Room at the Exchange Hotel during the Fatherhood Festival on Sunday, September 7 from 10am till 2pm.

Statistically, men are a pretty unwell mob, generally dying of almost all causes earlier than women.

Pit Stop is a free health check-up program, which likens parts of the male anatomy to an engine. There are 14 different stops including those where men can have their oil levels (blood pressure) tested, spare tyre (girth) checked and asked if they have a balanced wheel alignment (falls prevention).

Taree’s Community Health Centre worker and ‘head mechanic’, Phil Long said that the mechanical concept brings an element of humour to men’s health and removes it from a clinical setting.

The challenge to men from the Manning and surrounding communities is to see if their body will pass the pits with flying colours or be needing follow-up maintenance work.

“Men, put a challenge out to your mates to work out who’s got the Hot Rod. Come and do yourself a favour and visit our Pit Stop crew for your free health check,” Phil said.

“We hope the Pit Stop program helps men learn about health issues they haven’t paid much attention to. We want them to then take this knowledge to the community through their sons, mates and work colleagues.”

The Pit Stop program is a partnership between the health service staff of Taree Community Health Centre, Rotary Clubs of Taree and the Lower Mid North Coast Community Forum on Health.