Movember Etches 180-Metre Moustache Into Outback Airstrip
The Big Red Mo at Mt Gipps Station near Broken Hill aims to spark conversation about men's mental health in regional Australia.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Men’s Health
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Movember has etched a 180-metre moustache named the Big Red Mo into an airstrip at Mt Gipps Station near Broken Hill, New South Wales. Social media users were asked to tag the International Space Station on Instagram and X in the hope the crew could photograph it from orbit.
Why it matters
Movember says suicide rates in regional and remote areas are twice as high as in metropolitan areas, and the installation is meant to draw attention to the mental health challenges facing men outside Australia's major cities. The campaign also aims to prompt wider conversations about men's mental health.
Movember reports that suicide rates in regional and remote areas are twice as high as in metropolitan areas, a comparison drawn from its own campaign materials. The organisation has committed $59.5m globally over seven years to improve the social and mental wellbeing of Indigenous men and boys, with $17.5m allocated to Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, though whether the crew will photograph the moustache remains unconfirmed.
The players
Movember
Movember is a global men's health charity known for its annual moustache-growing campaigns that raise awareness and funds for men's mental health and suicide prevention.
Matt Agnew
Matt Agnew is an Australian astrophysicist and television personality who has become known for science communication on Australian screens.
Luke McGregor
Luke McGregor is an Australian comedian and actor known for his stand-up work and screen appearances.
The details
The 180-metre moustache was etched into the airstrip at Mt Gipps Station, and Comedian Luke McGregor and Brendan Cullen led a Shavedown at the installation site to mark the start of Movember. Astrophysicist and TV personality Matt Agnew supported the initiative, which encouraged social media users to tag the station on Instagram and X.
Timeline
1 November 2026: Movember begins with the Shavedown at the installation site.
Big Picture
Movember's global commitment of $59.5m over seven years to the social and mental wellbeing of Indigenous men and boys, including $17.5m for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, frames the campaign's focus on regional and remote Australia. The Big Red Mo extends this work by drawing national attention to the gap in mental health outcomes between regional and metropolitan men.
For men in regional and remote Australia, the campaign highlights mental health support that may be harder to access than in cities, where suicide rates are reported to be lower. Readers concerned about their own wellbeing or that of someone they know can seek support through local health services or crisis lines.
The takeaway
Regional and remote men face higher suicide risk than their metropolitan counterparts, making accessible mental health conversations and support especially important outside the cities. Checking in on the men in your life, even with a simple question, can be a practical first step.
Further reading
For more on related issues, explore Men's Health coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mumbrella.
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