Men shedding

Cap: Mayor David Hamilton looks on with Bunnings Area Manager George Ciacciaelli, and Bunnings Shellharbour staff Peter Cashmere, Janie Cashmere and Caterina McBeath as Ted Furlong puts one of the Mens Shed drill presses through its paces.

Shellharbours retired men who have lost their backyard sheds and workshops as a result of downsizing their homes are shedless no more, thanks to an innovative initiative by Shellharbour City Council which has seen the old Council Chambers building on Addison Street turned into a community-based Mens Shed.

Announcing the Mens Shed at the official opening on Wednesday May 31, Shellharbour City Mayor Cr David Hamilton acknowledged the importance of the backyard shed as part of the Australian culture, a place he said where men traditionally retreat to tinker, contemplate the world and swap yarns with their mates.

As people downsize their homes upon retirement to unit, townhouse or villa style accommodation, the backyard shed is becoming a thing of the past, said Cr Hamilton.

This new Mens Shed facility means that local blokes will have a place to call their own, where they can work together on their own or community projects.

According to Shellharbour City Councils Manager of community Services and Development, Linda Campbell, The Mens Shed initiative emerged out of the Councils Social Plan and the recent Making Men Matter research project which clearly underlined that men in Shellharbour wanted a place where they could spend time with blokes with similar interests, learn new skills and have access to information about improving their lives.

Our research tells us that women generally have better social networks than men and we are keen to give men their own space to share ideas and gain support, said Ms Campbell.

Our research also tells us that good health is based on factors which include self-esteem, feeling productive and valuable to society, having social relationships and being active.

It was out of this that the Shellharbour Shed was born.

When operational in a few weeks time, the Shellharbour Shed will be a full equipped timber restoration and repair workshop where skilled and unskilled men can share time, swap stories and work together on community projects.

Members will be able to make and repair furniture, toys and craft items or work on their own projects. Many items will then be donated to community outreach programs and others sold to buy materials and new tools and equipment for the shed.

Bunnings Shellharbour has been committed to the project since its inception and has donated some $8000 worth of tools and equipment to the facility. They are also supporting a Council submission for further support from the Department of Veteran Affairs. Bunnings Complex Manager Perter Cashmere thanked council for the opportunity to participate in the project.

Mayor Hamilton also announced that Mitre 10 Shellharbour had committed to donate timber to the Shed.

Ms Campbell said that the purpose of the project was to pay recognition to the fact that older men have unmet social needs and need to maintain a connection with the community.

The Shellharbour Shed will enable them to help each other, have a place to share time with others and have a connection with the community through the projects they work on, Ms Campbell said.

I would like to acknowledge council for their vision and foresight on this project, and the many others who have worked to support the idea of the Mens Shed and make it a reality, not least of which is Councils Coordinator of Community Transport, Ian Richardson whos passion and commitment for this project has been amazing.

Mr Richardson said that even before the Mens Shed was officially he had received numerous enquiries, offers of donations and approaches from various health service organizations looking the the Mens Shed as a possible rehabilitation facility.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Shellharbour Shed or interested in making a donation, please contact Councils Community Service Team on 4221 6170.