After retiring from rugby, Wes Bending purchased a farm in Bunya in 2006, fulfilling his father's dying wish to retire in the countryside. His father, terminally ill with cancer, passed away the day after the purchase. This period marked the beginning of Wes's journey into farming and a rural lifestyle.

In memory of his brother who committed suicide in 2012, Wes and his brother Rob created the Crownback Classic. Held annually from 2013 to 2018, this event provided support to men needing a break and raised over $20,000 for Northern Beaches Lifeline.

Following their marriage in 2013 Wes and his wife moved to various rentals before convincing his wife to move near Bunya in 2017. Despite his efforts, Wes went through a tough separation, impacting his relationship with his children. He stresses the importance of support during such challenging times.

Wes and his friends honoured their fallen friends through Friday morning surfing. He believes that modern society makes it hard for men to find opportunities for male bonding due to financial pressures and other constraints.

Wes credits his understanding of pure love and his spiritual journey to his experiences with plant medicines. These experiences changed his perspective on relationships and connections, advocating for exploration over judgment.

Finding strength in daily mindfulness practices, yoga, Wes sees beauty in everyday life, inspired by scenes like a plastic bag floating in the wind. He aims to start a Bunya yoga club and men's retreat to give back to the community.

Wes values mentoring young people to help them heal from childhood trauma. He finds genuine gratitude more fulfilling than financial gain. Through reflection and openness to learning from others, he has gained wisdom from life's experiences and the passing of close family members.

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We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes.

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Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie

This episode of Kintsugi Heroes was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at cbf.org.au.