Burgers with health trimmings

Passersby - and more than a few enthusiastic court attendees - made the most of the Cancer Society's free burgers outside Southey Motors in Masterton yesterday.

But there was a catch; munchers had to fill out a Men's Health Week questionnaire to determine whether they were making healthy lifestyle choices, or in need of a GP check-up.

Several women opted to fill out the questionnaire on behalf of their partners, with most knowing their men's alcohol intake and how many serves of fruit and vegetables they had.

The question relating to whether their men had satisfying sex prompted some discussion among the women, but that, too, was marked up.

Manning the barbecue was Steve Kenny, Cancer Society national men's health co-ordinator.

He said Men's Health Week, which would run to Sunday, involved him in activities around the country.

"It's to promote our Get The Tools programme," he said, referring to the society's men's health website.

"We're really pleased the Cancer Society has a focus specifically on blokes.

"We want to develop resources for the rural bloke.

"Men have more cancers than women, but we are less likely to go see a doctor."

The website, which promoted "discussing the nuts and bolts of men's health", featured information on different cancers, advice from doctors, regular prize draws, and stories from New Zealand men who had survived the disease, he said.