Groaning and hissing (like a steam locomotive) and harnessed to a mighty rope, he hauled a 13-tonne ACT Rural Fire Service Heavy Tanker along a stretch of road at EPIC.

"Imagine if I can't move it!" he'd agonised to a few of us in earshot just before his audience arrived.

The huge truck loomed behind and above him, looking as immobile as Uluru, albeit an Uluru on wheels.

But he did move it, the muscles of his tattooed arms bulging mind-bogglingly. His exertions were enormous and it was five minutes before the 24-year old from Crace had enough breath for me to be able to interview him. Even then his answers were punctuated with lots of loud gasps.

Competition feats by Strongmen like him (there will be Strongwomen too) will be features of this weekend's Big Boys Toy Expo.

While Fraser, nearby, was sizing up his fire truck and trying to intimidate it with his body language, launch speeches were being made in front of some spectacular big boys for boys. Toys included some excitingly hoony cars and two muscular-looking power boats.

With political big boy Chief Minister Andrew Barr listening, the CEO of Menslink, Martin Fisk, pointed out that eventful as Canberra is "there are not many events for teenagers".

"But this [Big Boys Toys] is THE event for teenagers. And as an organisation that works with teenage guys to try and get them through tough times, tough times that see teenage men unfortunately attempt suicide, that sees teenage boys involved in family violence, in fighting ... this is an event where families can get together with those teenagers and really have a day being connected. Connectedness is the stuff that keeps us alive. It's one of the key solutions to mental health problems."

Partnering last year with the Big Boys Toys event raised nearly $7000 for Menslink and this year Fisk hopes for $10,000 to be raised to be ploughed back into Menslink's work.

Struggling for breath Fraser (he works for the Canberra Raiders in programs that assist kids) panted that at the weekend's expo he will be one of 11 Canberra and district Goliaths who will be hauling trucks and lifting huge logs to seek the coveted title of Canberra's Strongest Man. Simultaneously a field of warrior princess amazons will seek the sash as Canberra's Strongest Woman.

The men, he gasped, "will be trying [pant] to pull an 18 tonner [pant], the biggest truck [pant] ever pulled in the ACT".

With a handshake (this seven stone weakling's hand a puny thing by comparison with the Strongman's manly paw) we bade one another goodbye.

There will be over 80 exhibitors and interactive opportunities galore at this weekend's second Big Boys Toys Expo, Saturday and Sunday August 20-21, at Exhibition Park in Canberra. For information and tickets go to bigboystoyscanberra.com.au.