Hammer and Heart | For boys becoming young men

Once upon a time there was a pathway… And this pathway had the power to turn boys into men.

Although this pathway was often walked alone, the boys were led to the start of the trail and assured that someone would be there at the end. But the inbetwixt and in-between was their mystery — and theirs alone.

This pathway was carved out by those who had walked before them. And yes, some boys did not return. Such was the gravity of this Rite — the weight of a commitment to creating an initiated man who kneeled to the needs of his community and bowed to his summons of service.

Anything less than that would bear grave consequences for the village.

But here we are — years of stumbling through a cultural chasm. A true void. The pathway has become so overgrown — thickets and thorns begging us to crawl. And crawl we must. Until we have space to swing our hammers and beat our hearts… This journey is for our boys — and their Fathers, Uncles Grandfathers and Mentors.

WELCOME TO HAMMER AND HEART

A 12-month Rite of Passage supporting the transformation of our boys into humble and healthy young men. 2026–2027

WHO IS THIS FOR?

We have created this container for boys between the ages of 13-15 years and their father or step-father, Uncle, Grandfather or any other male role model/mentor in their life.

If your young fella does not have a suitable male mentor, we can help pair him up with one of our vetted men from our Men's Group - The Brothers of Bhundoo.

WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?

Our main goal is to gift a container of connection and safety as well as the tools needed for a healthy and profound transformational pathway for both our boys and their male mentor/s in their life.

A lot of the work we will be delving into will be just as much for the adult mentors as it is for our boys.

Our hope and intention is that all of our initiates, will walk away feeling a profound sense of place and connection in their community with deep clarity about their unique gifts and visions and the power to go live that vision...Live their purpose.

We will be doing our best to mimic what our boys would of had in their quiver of emotional, physical and spiritual tools when Rites of Passages were engrained deeply in our Ancestral ways.

WHAT IS THE FLOW OF THE YEAR?

Every month we gather, we will guided by themes, challenges and practices that will help cultivate this growth, connection and pathway.

Will be working from the wisdom of the wheel, using the natural cycles of nature to help guide us as we delve into the inner and outer realms of our being.

Throughout the year we will meet local men from our community who are living their purpose - They will offer their stories, wisdoms and practices, so we can harvest what is needed on our our journey.

Physically, we will be gathering every month at our Brothers of Bhundoo Tipi at Mollymook NSW for 4-5hrs

This is subject to change based on the themes/challenges for that month.

And we have 2 main camps/experiences at the beginning and the end of the passage.

These will take place at the the Bhundoo Bush Cottages out at Yadboro Flats (50min drive form Mollymook) TBC

WHAT KIND OF EXPERIENCES CAN WE EXPECT?

Like all Rites of Passage since the beginning of time, there is an element of the unknown - The mystery.

However, what I can tell you is that we will be having an enjoyable time!

Albeit bountiful with frustration and challenges in our carefully crafted experiences, we will be comforted by camaraderie and lots of laughter!

My medicine is play. It is how I work... It is how I hold space and how I create gateways to growth and insight. So know that play will thread the year together...

We will invest a lot of time to learning the old ways. Primitive practices and hands on learning.

We will challenge our bodies physically.

We will test our patience.

We will comfort and console our inner wounds

And we will deepen our own spiritual pathway and practices

Below are some of the topics we will be covering throughout the year

• The Wheel and the cycles of nature

• The way of the circle/space holding

• Rites of Passage

• Ceremony/intention

• Compassion and respect

• Sexuality

• Human/Animal movement

• Permaculture principles

• Nutrition and cooking

• Meditation

• Addiction

• Community connection and service

• Primitive and modern survival skills

• Earth building

• Sacred crafting

• Non-Violent Communication

• Purpose and power

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE EXCHANGE?

• Accommodation, lunch and dinner and materials for both camps (BYO Camping gear)

• All materials and facilitators for each monthly gathering

• All experiences/materials from our specialty facilitators

TICKET OPTIONS (Payment plans and options available)

OPTION 1

Male adult and teen - $2950 inc gst - 10 tickets available

OPTION 2

Teen only (Mentor provided) $1500 inc gst - 2 tickets available

There are payment plans available.

Please note, you cannot purchase tickets through Humantix.

You will need to book in a discovery call and then you can direct deposit once your place is confirmed.

WHAT DO WE NEED FROM YOU?

Your unwavering commitment to this work.

Your willingness to create a new culture and pathway for our boys and men

Your curiosity and responsibility

WHO ARE THE FACILITATORS?

We will have our main facilitators that will be there every month, guiding, supporting and holding.

These are

Jamie Lepre (me) - Community catalyst and facilitator at Brothers of Bhundoo

Michael Keats - Co-Founder + Facilitator of Brothers of Bhundoo and Dawn Chorus (See Michael's intro video here)

Dean Dampney - The Unconventional Psychotherapist (See Dean's intro video here)

We will also have our speciality facilitators and mentors that will be involved throughout the year

Grahame Webber - Elder and community weaver

Dean Howcroft - Co-founder of Brothers of Bhundoo and Facilitator

Sam Harris - Instinct memory (Primitive skills master)

Andrew Joulianou - The Bald Chef (Hunter and wild game chef)

Johnny Alveras - Budawang Earthcare (Permaculture)

Nick Evans - The Movement Mechanic

Kiyoshi Yamamoto - Facilitator at Brothers of Bhundoo and community mentor

Lachy Rombouts - Ocean Love and Waterman

David Mitsak - The Mud Man (Earth building)

MAIN DATES TO LOCK IN

• 13-15th March 2026 (Fri–Sunday - 3 day + 2 nights camp)

• Sunday 19 April 2026

• Sunday 17 May 2026

• Sunday 21 June 2026 (Winter Solstice Sunday)

• Sunday 26 July 2026

• Sunday 23 August 2026

• Sunday 27 September 2026 (Closest Sunday to Spring Equinox)

• Sunday 25 October 2026

• Sunday 29 November 2026 (Final offical gathering for 2026)

• December 2026 (No gathering for Dec)

• Sunday 17 January 2027 (First gathering of the New Year)

• Sunday 21 February 2027

• 18–21 March 2027 (Equinox and Thurs–Sunday - 4 day + 3 nights camp)

We are pathing the way for this essential work and in doing so, there will undoubtedly be some unchartered terrain.

But what we know for sure is that the current trackless reality for our teens boys becoming men, is unstable, uncertain and unlike our ancestor's Rites of Passage.

There is a great connection deficit amongst our boys and young men.

This deficit inflicts not only the relationship between peers but certainly any connection to any men and elders in the greater community.

So our task at hand is simple.

Bring boys together in a curated, safe space - Held by passionate and healthy men in the community and let's get to work reviving and restoring a pathway to purpose and connection for all boys and men in our community.

Please see our video below on Our philosophy and 4 tenets

https://vimeo.com/1159007801/1dae269aba?fl=ip&fe=ec

If you're interested in joining the journey, please book a discovery call.

044 88 22 750

jamie@manecollective.com.au

In joy and play,

Jamie

A SPECIAL MENTION

This Rite of Passage journey has been made possible and affordable thanks to the Backing The Future Grant from the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation.

Thanks to this support, My wife and I have been able to create 2 x 12 month Rite of Passage programs, one for Fathers and Sons and one for Mothers and Daughters.

We believe this will be one of the most transformational programs for young people and their families, not only in our local area but Australia wide.

Thank you to the team at VFFF and the support crew from FRRR.

We are eternally grateful

Jamie + Emma Lepre