Gregory Aldridge OAM

As Gregory Aldridge OAM sat through his investiture ceremony at Government House, Canberra in September, he reflected on the journey that brought him there.  

Mr Aldridge is CEO of EveryMan Australia, who provide services to men that are at risk of exclusion, discrimination and marginalisation. The services are provided to men, no matter who they are, or their history. He has also been a member of the Domestic Violence Prevention Council, coordinator of White Ribbon Capital Region, and a psychologist.  

He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to community health.  

“A lot of the guys that we work with have quite serious health issues, but we often tell people we’re not a men’s health service … it’s a contribution to community health,” he explains.  

“We work with men with mental health issues, with physical health issues ... but I think my particular focus over the past 10 to 15 years, or longer than that, has been in creating a place for men who don’t fit very easily into other services, and making sure they get the services that they have an entitlement to.  

“We know it’s in their interests, but also those around them.”  

Mr Aldridge says he is motivated by seeing the value in all people, even the ones people “would often cross the road to avoid”.  

“I always think of our clients as having negative glamour,” he says.  

“We’re interested in them because they’re men who have nobody else around them really interested in them as human beings.”  

Mr Aldridge thanked his wife, kids and colleagues for all they have put into the challenging work he has been recognised for.  

“I’d also like to thank my Dad, who is not around anymore. But I was thinking about him while I was standing in line [to receive my honour],” he adds.  

“I had a pretty rough start when I was a kid, as a teenager and in my early 20s. I’m sure he worried a lot about where my life was going to end up. 

“I like to think how relieved he would be if he’d been sitting in the audience today, to think that all that work he did as I was growing up was paying off. I’d like to thank him in his absence.”