The Men's Shed Workshop

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A COMMUNITY PROJECT FOR MEN

• PROVIDED IN A WORK SHOP ENVIRONMENT.
• YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO DO WOOD WORK.
• YOU JUST HAVE TO BE A MALE TO ATTEND.
• YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE TO DO WOODWORK.
• JUST COME ALONG AND TALK TO SOME BLOKES ABOUT ANYTHING.
• RELAX AND DO NOTHING IF THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

BRING A PROJECT
IF YOU HAVE A PROJECT YOU WANT TO WORK ON FOR YOURSELF. BRING IT ALONG AND WORK ON IT AT THE SHED, ASK FOR IDEAS OR BRING SOME IDEAS TO SHARE.

HAVE A PROJECT BUT CAN’T BUILD IT?
BRING ALONG YOUR IDEA, THERE ARE PLENTY OF BLOKES THAT CAN EITHER TEACH YOU HOW TO DO IT OR CAN DO IT FOR YOU - JUST ASK!

WHAT DO MEN DO.

They do all sorts of things, it depends on the individual,
• Build things.
• Wreck things.
• Talk.
• Tell Jokes.
• Relate experiences.
• Listen to others.
• Discuss health problems.
• Discuss any problem.
• Talk about anything.
• Cook lunch.
• Do nothing if that’s what they want.

WHERE

CORNER OF GRANT AND BLAND STREET’S YARRAM PHONE: - 5182 5218

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
There are many benefits from the shed some are seen and measured some are just felt.

The benefits for the men:
• A place to be yourself and do what you want, when you want, how you want.
• Other men who you can relate to.
• Ideas exchange.
• A place to learn.
• A place to teach.
• Someone who will listen and not judge.
• Someone who understands.

The benefits for the community:
• Utilising skills that may have been hidden and unused.
• Construction of community projects that may have been unaffordable.
• Some of the problems that older men suffer can be addressed and referred.

SOME PARTICULARS
• Stress free environment.
• Talk to blokes about blokes things.
• Lunch provided.
• Shed open every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Come anytime you want - leave anytime you want.
• No obligation to attend every week, come as often as you want or whenever you can.
• All ages.
• A lot of knowledge and experience is exchanged each week.
• A $2.00 attendance fee is requested each week so consumables such as nails, screws and sandpaper can be purchased.

WHO DOES WHAT?
The men actually run the shed. They decide what to do, when to do it and at what pace they do it. With individual projects or group projects.
They try and resource as much material and tools as they can, what they can’t get they pass to the supervisor to obtain.

COMMUNITY PROJECTS COMPLETED BY "THE MEN'S SHED":

1. Production of display frames for photographic exhibition at Yarram show.
2. Production of schedule board for Yarram “Eisteddfod”
3. Production of 40 paint frames for Yarram Secondary College
4. Construct “Puppet stage” (full size) for Yarram Secondary College
5. Restore garden seating for Yarram Catholic church
6. Restore and re-paint “Nativity Statues” for both Yarram and Woodside Catholic churches
7. Construct display cabinet for Australian and New Zealand flags for Yarram RSL sub-branch
8. Restore and deliver bicycles for needy children
9. Manufacture toys for “Baker Centre” to deliver to needy families at Christmas
10. Construct a presentation lectern for Yarram RSL
11. Assorted repairs and odd jobs for local elderly residents
12. Constructed children mini golf games for local church Easter function
13. Constructed nativity scene for Catholic church
14. Make an honor board for local Masonic Lodge
15. Make a commemorative shield for local Neighbor Hood Watch writing competition
16. Make a premiership shield for local pool competition
17. New choir steps for local eisteddfod
18. New letterbox for local church
19. Numerous game boards for Aged Care Centers including hooky boards and shuffle boards.
20. Honor Board for YCLC office
21. Fitted out toilet & classroom for YCLC
22. Glockenspiel boxes for Yarram Primary School
23. Toy Box for kindergarten raffle

THERE IS A SUPERVISOR

Mark Binding's role is to supervise that every one is safe and careful

He also facilitates and makes sure the men have what they need.

He liaises with the COM as to what the shed and men need

He sources funding and donations to ensure the continuation of the program.

THE MEN HAVE RAISED MONEY TO PURCHASE;

New saw bench

5 station multi tool with saw bench, thicknesser, planer, mortiser, moulder

Drill press

Router table

2 band saws

Lathe

Horizontal borer

Numerous hand tools

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS
The future of the Men’s Shed is very solid.
The support from the local community is very strong, and the men are extremely enthusiastic about recruitment and future projects.
They are now working on a number of projects that can be used as sources of finance to help improve the shed.

• Planter boxes
• Toys for sale.
• Furniture for raffles.
• Other timber works for sale.
• Some small jobs for the local hardwood mill – Cutting Pickets & racking sticks
• Timber clocks and desk sets
• Assorted repairs and odd jobs for local elderly residents.

Where the shed goes in the next few years is up to the community. Over the last 3 years the men and the YCLC have worked very hard in improving this community resource. Community involvement and participation in programs at the shed will determine the rate of expansion and the direction that expansion will take.

• We hope to obtain a grant to extend the shed,
• Purchase some wrought iron bending tools
• Start a small shop space to allow direct sales to the public.

The shed however relies heavily on funding to continue. With the enthusiasm of the men and the hard work of the committee this should be successful.

FUNDRAISING PROJECTS FOR THE MEN’S SHED

1. Produce and install “Bingo” signage at Yarram Country Club
2. Produce and install “Blackboards” for Yarram Country Club crèche
3. Constructed modular stage for Yarram Country Club
4. Made 200 boxes to place wine glasses for wine promotions
5. Cut fence pickets for local timber mill 6. Cut timber stacking sticks for local mill
7. Blackwood coffee table for raffle
8. Noah’s Ark and animal model for raffle
9. Toy boxes for sale
10. Planter boxes and seats for sale and raffle
11. Animal pencil holders
12. Timber wall and mantle clocks for sale and raffle
13. Chicken coops
14. Wood Wall hangers for Patchwork
15. Make storage boxes for bowls sets at bowling club for visitors.

SHED WISH LIST
With good community support the potential for the Men’s Shed is unlimited, but the men do have some dreams. These include

Building a new bigger shed
Incorporating a shop in the shed
Having the shed open 2 day’s a week for Men

Some Shed Stats:-

Currently there are 37 men registered to attend the shed
On average 19 men attend each week
Ages range from 30 to 92 years old
Men attend from as far away as Foster to Woodside and Port Albert
Two men attend each week from St Elmo’s & 5 from Foster’s Banksias lodge once a month
There are 2 qualified carpenters, 2 toy makers, 1 cabinet maker and 1 wood turner who attend the shed regularly and who offer their advice and expertise free.

Eight of the men who attend the shed have expanded their interests into mentoring and assisting with other programs run by the shed.