Local blokes are back together for projects and friendship at Drouin Men’s Shed after a three-month closure.
But, it’s not all about woodwork at Drouin Men’s Shed as (from left) Barry Morris, Brian Williams, Garry Champness and Peter Gribben demonstrate in the outdoor veggie garden.
Local blokes are back together for projects and friendship at Drouin Men’s Shed after a three-month closure.
The men’s shed, which has 109 members, reopened on June 8 – just in time to acknowledge last week’s Men’s Health Week.
Drouin Men’s Shed president James Hunt said they were back operating Monday to Thursdays. However, despite many preventative measures and attendance restrictions, they are attracting lower numbers than normal. He believes some members were hesitant to come back yet.
“We’ve been cleaning consistently for weeks,” said Mr Hunt, adding temperature checks, sign-ins and even a kitchen overall were conducted for safety.
During the closure, Drouin Men’s Shed members kept in contact via social media. This period highlighted the benefits of the organisation which aims to get blokes together for improved health and wellbeing.
Mr Hunt said the group offers friendship, a sense of purpose and simply “gave men somewhere to be men”.
“It’s providing men with something to keep their mind active and that’s why men go awry when they become inactive,” said Mr Hunt. “They really, really struggle when they don’t have something to connect to. You can only do so much gardening.”
Australian Men’s Shed Association executive officer David Helmers said the closure of men’s sheds had been a contradictory to the fundamental purpose of the movement – preventing social isolation.
“As we begin to return to our shed life in Australia, we’re taking this Men’s Health Week as an opportunity to simply acknowledge and celebrate the health benefits – both physical and mental – of the sheer act of visiting the shed,” said Mr Helmers.
To the naked eye men’s sheds might seem to be all woodwork and manual crafts, but the environment offers men from all walks of life with the opportunity to participate meaningfully in their local community.
At Drouin, Mr Hunt said there was computer building, programming and training, sound recording and converting music and video, model trains, excursions, men’s health talks, guest speakers, and music, photography, walking and gardening groups.
They are also currently building “Buddy Chairs” for local schools to encourage friendships and creating signs for the Trees of Nations project in Drouin.
Mr Helmers said, “our online Men’s Shed and The Shed Wireless podcast will remain part of our services to shedders for some time to come – but you can’t beat the sound of machinery and making sawdust amongst mates”.
“Of course the day to day operations of Men’s Sheds must overcome to challenges of adhering to social distancing and hygiene measures, I know that I can speak on behalf of the almost 1200 men’s sheds around Australia when I say, it’s just great to be back.”