MEN’S SHED CELEBRATES 10 YEARS

and benefit from an interchange of skills and information. Each shed is different, catering for local needs and interests under a broad set of national objectives.

Up until the covid outbreak the shed operated at the hospital with the donation of some woodworking machinery. Wodturning was the main activity but members were able to turn up for a cuppa and a chat with no obligation to be active. A number of hospital patients became involved including the late Joe James.

When the hospital required what was the workshop, the group was able to use the former mower shed at the Dee Bowls Club. With some grant money and some donations the group was able equip this space to make a reasonable workshop.

The shed membership has remained small – about 10 members- but active with limited resources. There has been a number of projects undertaken which has raised funds to improve the facilities. Some members undertake personal projects that are able to raise funds for their hobbies as well as the shed. The shed’s focus is dynamic, dependant on members interests, skills and finances.

“We haven’t built a boat, but we could,” President Andy Johnson said.

The Mount Morgan shed has chosen to welcome female members and has benefit from a wide range of skills.

It is said that “necessity is the mother of invention” and this is certainly the case with Mount Morgan’s Men’s Shed which celebrated 10 years on 15 July.

The ‘new’ Mount Morgan Hospital was built with a space next to the doctors surgery with the intended purpose of providing an activities area suitable for male long stay patients. It was later realised that there was a national organisation whose aims aligned sympathetically with the hospital.

An open meeting was advertised with the intention of forming the Mount Morgan Men’s Shed and an interim committee was formed with the intention of becoming an incorporated oganisation.

The shed movement intended to improve men’s mental and physical health by providing a venue where men could gather with a common goal

Some of the ladies who join wish to learn some basic skills, for example if they are renovating. Others are already skilled in wood work, eg, Angela (or one of our ladies) has been woodcarving and working with wood for over 30 years.

In the early days of settlement it was often the woman’s job to make the artifacts for the home, including some of the furniture whilst the men did the hard yacka in the mines or the fields.