The Face of the Men’s Shed
Around the ‘Burgh, and beyond, we often have interesting discussions about the Shed. ‘Oh, is it
still running? Where is it now? What IS a Men’s Shed?’ And the classic; ‘Oh, it’s just a bunch of
old guys tinkering’.
Let me set the scene;
A bloke retires and is lost for something meaningful to do, somewhere to go and someone to talk
to, a reason for getting out of bed. He has decades of skill and life experience to impart to others.
The lawn is billiard smooth, the house shines, he’s caught enough fish.........And the missus
wants him out of the house, PLEASE!
But this bloke (let’s call him Shedman) may be eighteen, and unemployed, drifting, and starting a
slippery slide.
Or he may be a young dad, injured and on compo, not quite well enough to go back to work, but
bored out of his mind, worried about his job, the mortgage, the new baby’s future.
Then again, Shedman could be a relative, with an ailing wife, or financial problems, or perhaps
the downsizing didn’t quite go to plan. The face of a Men’s Shedder is all these, and more.
Shedman gets up Monday morning. He is excited, because today he knows he can put the
finishing touches to the creation he has been making for his loved ones. He packs some Anzac
bikkies for the blokes. At morning tea, he knows that Rosie’s happy face will greet him as he
enjoys that first morning brew. He’s very happy to hear that the Shed raised over $600 for
drought affected farmers at the last Bunnings Sausage Sizzle, and is so thankful to all those kind
people who made cakes. He gets to listen to the Stanny school kids playing and singing. At
lunch, he can regale the guys with another yarn, and tell his worried mate; ‘It’ll be ok; we can
help you out’.
After lunch, he adds that last brushstroke of varnish, steps back, gazes at his work....
And another bloke says, ‘Nice work, Shedman. Very nice.’
Do you need to be Shedman? We want you to be Shedman. Come on down.