Hazardous journey for Wildman and a fridge

WALK THE TALK: A man called Cope and a fridge called Steve; Rob Cope spreading the message that manning up often requires opening up. PHOTO/JOHN STONE

With its nod to civilised living, a fridge seems a rather First World symbol for a campaign called Project Wildman.

That irony is part of Rob Cope's message as he hitchhikes around the North Island with his fridge, called Steve, in tow. Steve is symbolic of a tendency for men to "be cool", to gather round with beers or slabs of meat (kept chilled in a fridge) and talk about, well, anything but meaningful things, Mr Cope said.

Project Wildman, which Mr Cope founded in Wellington, is a discussion group encouraging men to explore and communicate their feelings about personal issues. Mr Cope, who finished his trek at the weekend, first introduced Project Wildman to Northland late last year during a similar tour.

"The fridge is a different one this time but the message is the same," Mr Cope said. "Us guys need to start talking instead of just sitting around, drinking and talking crap."

Many boys and men have been brought up in "a culture that has told us 'men don't talk about that stuff'."

"All of us men who have learnt we should talk, do talk, so I can give other guys more than 'that's a bit rough, mate. Have another cold one'."

It's a subject also covered in his book, Men Wanted for Hazardous Journey.

As a backpack would, the fridge carries his clothes, food and other gear and despite it being cumbersome, Mr Cope attracts plenty of lifts, hospitality and robust discussions about man things.

After last year's New Zealand trek, Wildman collectives started in Christchurch and Auckland - "Sons of Wildman" - and a small but positive public meeting in Whangarei indicated interest in one here, he said.

The Wellington to Northland and return speaking tour/roadtrip has fallen short of the Spark My Potential-subsided $24,000 he needed to raise to set up another group with a mentor/co-ordinator.

But then, some things just keep going against the odds. For example, when Mr Cope returned from last year's tour he plugged in that battered fridge and it still worked. He's now using it at home for its First World purpose.