When Mitch Catterall returned to Kiama in 2024 after 12 years living in Melbourne, he was looking for a lifestyle change - and to escape the grey Melbourne winters. With his kids in tow, he hoped to reconnect with the tight-knit community he remembered growing up in.

But he quickly noticed something was missing.

“I had a lot of friends still living in the area - people I grew up with - and no one talked to each other or saw each other,” Catterall said.

“Even my best mates from back in the day, the guys I used to hang out with every weekend... I’d message them one by one and say, ‘Have you seen Timmy?’ or ‘Have you seen Matt or Nate?’

“And they all said no - not in years. I’d ask how long it had been, and they’d say eight, nine, ten, even twelve years. It really hit me: how do I get people back together?”

That question led to the creation of the Kiama Dads Club - a group focused on connecting local fathers through casual, judgment-free social catch-ups and community support.

Catterall chose to focus on dads because he saw a consistent pattern: isolation.

“Something I call ‘Dad Guilt’ is massive - and I’ve felt it myself,” he said. “You want to go out, but you don’t want to take time away from the family. And before you know it, it’s been months since you’ve seen anyone socially.

“No one was catching up. No one was really talking. They were just focused on work and family - especially if they didn’t play organised sport. There was a huge social gap.”

In 2022, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported that suicide remains the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15–44 - and Catterall believes a lack of regular social connection is a major contributor.

“One study I saw said that for men to maintain balanced mental health, they need two to three social interactions per week,” he said.

“I mentioned that to a mate recently and he couldn’t think of even one social event with friends - not related to family or work - in the last six months. That’s so common. Even for me. If it’s not with the kids or at work, it just doesn’t happen.”

So in August 2024, driven by frustration and a desire to reconnect, he posted a call-out in the Kiama Community Facebook page and launched the Kiama Dads Club.

“About a hundred people joined the Facebook group overnight - or within a day or two. It happened really fast,” he said.

The group has since held a few informal catch-ups - the first in October, then in January, and most recently three weeks ago. As the concept evolves, Catterall hopes it will become a monthly event with a variety of options for different lifestyles.

“So far we’ve met at a couple of pubs, the Grand, and Finding Fillmore,” he said. “It’s all been low pressure - just a simple way to reconnect.

“But we’re also planning to introduce things like morning coffee catch-ups, walks, kicking a footy at the oval, even kid-friendly events where people can bring their kids along - because not everyone has the freedom to go out solo.”

Catterall is keen to ensure the club remains inclusive and accessible to all.

“I’m conscious that not everyone drinks or wants to hang out at the pub,” he said. “So there’ll be events like a Saturday morning coffee and walk around the harbour, or just a casual stop-and-chat that doesn’t revolve around alcohol.”

To join the Kiama Dads Club, search for the group on Facebook or contact Mitch directly via private message.