What Is A Men’s Shed.
Men’s Sheds are a modern version of the shed in the backyard that has long been a part of Australian culture.
Traditionally this is where men retreat when they need time to themselves so they can think and or create.
Men’s Sheds provide a unique and practical way of addressing men’s health issues by providing opportunities and activities that keep the mind and body active.
Being productive and valuable to your community gives one a sense of purpose and well-being, an opportunity to experience fresh ideas and come away with a new perspective. Importantly all of this is done without pressure in a relaxed atmosphere of old-fashioned mateship.
Members of Men’s Sheds come from all walks of life – the bond that unites them is that they are men with time on their hands and they would like something meaningful to do with that time.
With some 650 Sheds and 35,000 members Australia wide being largely supported by local government and church organisations the positive benefits to the communities are almost impossible to calculate.
Aims And Objectives.
- Provide a neutral place where men can be creative and productive.
- Provide the opportunity for men to associate and support each other.
- Provide an environment where men’s health issues can be raised and discussed.
- Give men the opportunity to serve the local community.
- Expand men’s educational and social networks.
- Promote inter-generational, family and cultural bonding through positive mentoring.
Our mission statement is:
“To encourage men of all ages, to meet and establish amutually rewarding, non-threatening social environment, without prejudice or discrimination”.
What We Do.
While recognising that everyone has different needs through personal preference, age and
health, no one has to do anything, but you may wish to:
Bring in that project you have never found time for.
Meet and just have a chat and ‘cuppa’.
Participate in ‘Shed’ projects for the benefit of the group, fund raise and help those members in need.
Help out with projects and activities.
Travel with us when we visit places of interest and other Men’s Sheds in the area.
Play a game of cards or just read a book.
You may wish to make yourself available to be a mentor for young men from the
community.
Attend talks on various men’s health issues, adult Learning opportunities and skills, trades
and hobbies taught by members of the group; and, many many more, but in short whatever fills your need.
FAQ.
Do I need a skill to join?
No, you don’t. We all have something unique
to offer even if it is only the ability to listen.
Can men without health problems join?
If you’re fit and healthy or not we want you. Men’s Shed is about awareness of men’s health issues and dealing with them before they become a major health problem is most important.
Is Men’s Shed just for older men?
Definitely not. The involvement of younger men is imperative if technical and life skills are to be passed on in a community. Younger people can also provide stimulation to older men as they pass on their skills and experiences.
How can a Men‘s Shed be beneficial to a retiree?
Retirement and retrenchment can be a very unsettling time in a man’s life. Particularly
when work has consumed much of their time over their working life and they have had little
time to develop other interests and hobbies.
Many men may not have the financial resources or skills to set up their own shed. They get the opportunity to use the equipment in the men’s shed and learn new skills, as well as regain the companionship they thought they had lost.
The Final Word.
So put simply the Men’s Shed is not a religious organisation. It’s just about “Blokes Supporting Blokes” in its simplest form. With hundreds of years worth of life experiences
from all walks of life, we have a huge depth and spread of skills to be captured and shared with the membership and community in general.
It has become quite apparent that the ever increasing pressure of just managing our lives on a day to day basis is taking its toll. Added to the equation as well, natural disasters of fire, drought and storm damage, there is little wonder that our health is under so much pressure and unfortunately gets put to one side.
We invite you to break the routine and take a few minutes to drop in and say hello, have a
cuppaand see what you can do to “Beat The Black Dog” and his companion “General Bad Health.” Make a difference to someone‘s life. It could be your own.