The men’s shed movement is a social phenomenon taking off at an explosive rate, according to the association’s national president Mort Shearer, and if an expo held in town on Wednesday is anything to go by he is absolutely correct.
About 250 men from 30 sheds across New South Wales converged on the civic centre for the first men’s shed expo to be held in the region.
The participants spent the day listening to speakers who discussed men’s health issues as well as the future of the sheds and how groups can help each other.
Mr Shearer said the event proved to be beneficial for all shed members with many saying they had walked away from the expo with a number of new ideas.
“The most invaluable thing about today is that sheds get to know each other,” Mr Shearer said at the expo on Wednesday.
“They begin to understand other sheds have the same problems and are prepared to pass on solutions.
“It’s all about the exchange of information and learning from each other.”
Health is often a low priority on a man’s agenda and is often a subject many don’t raise. However, through events such as the expo and even occurrences in the sheds, the blokes are provided with an opportunity to open up.
“Men don’t talk face to face, they talk shoulder to shoulder,” Mr Shearer said.
“But if they’re at a bar having a drink they talk about everything else but their own health and well being. That’s why men’s sheds are useful.”
Initially planned to be held at the Baptist Church hall, the venue for the expo was changed to the Civic Centre just before Christmas, when it was discovered more men than expected would be attending.
Wellington Men’s Shed chair Garry Hayes said when the local group opened almost one year ago, they “never dreamed” they would be hosting such a large-scale event.
“It grew out of nothing,” Mr Hayes said.
“It started out of an expo in Hobart last year that we and three other sheds in the central west attended.
“The peer support worker was there and we asked if we got a few sheds together if he would come and talk.
“We found five sheds and from that it just kept growing and growing.”
Mr Hayes said being able to host the event and see so many men come together was the highlight for him.
“It was excellent … Our men were rapt to be able to host it,” he said.
“From our shed’s point of view it was a real adventure and it was also good for the Wellington community.
“Just getting so many men together proves men are starting to get interested about men’s sheds and what we do.”
Throughout the expo those attending were able to inspect some of the projects sheds have undertaken.
Many also left with prizes, most of which were donated by local business Kitch’s Hardware, which were drawn during the day.
Parkes MP Mark Coulton, who attended the day, also raised $350 for the organisation by auctioning off a weekend in Canberra where the winner could spend a day in Parliament, have lunch with Mark and his wife at Parliament House and tour the Australian War Memorial.
Each shed was also given a bucket containing a variety of tools and a power rebate.
Email a friend