The one-day event which will take place next month has been organised by the local men to bring shed members from across central and western NSW together to discuss important topics and to also network and create contacts.

The expo has proved to be so popular that the venue has been moved to the Civic Centre to cater for the demand.

Wellington Men’s Shed member Garry Hayes said 23 sheds including Bourke, Lightning Ridge, Broken Hill, Kandos, Nyngan, Blayney and anywhere in between had been invited.

“We thought we might get a couple of representatives from each shed, but Coolah, Parkes and Narromine have already said they are bringing a busload,” Mr Hayes said.

“We were surprised but encouraged by that, it’s been really great.”

Mr Hayes is hopeful that if the expo, which will include guest speakers such as Mark Coulton, Michael Condon and Australian Men’s Shed Association president Mort Shearer, is a success, it may be held every two years in the future.

“Health will be a big thing, but there will also be an emphasis on what we do at each of the sheds as well,” he said.

“While there are a lot of city sheds, country men think differently and the interests are widespread.

“There are a number of sheds out here just starting up and others that have been going for a while, so if we can get together we can encourage each other and provide help in different ways.”

Between now and the conference, the members of Wellington Men’s Shed will be kept busy with many activities, one of which will include picking the large amount of vegetables currently growing on site.

Christmas rain boosted the growth of the plants and the men are currently enjoying the taste of fresh cucumber, tomatoes, spinach and pumpkins, with many members now hanging out for the rockmelons to ripen.

Men’s Shed gardener Bob Blatch said the rockmelons were so thick in some places they were almost overlapping each other.

“Just in one spot there are about 15 rockmelons,” he said. “Everyone can’t wait for them to come ripe which will happen towards the end of February.”

Mr Blatch, who plants by the moon and relishes the opportunity to teach people about gardening, said the men were currently picking the vegetables two days a week, but that would increase later on.