Mates supporting their great mates
The blokes at the Kyabram Men’s Shed do a lot of great work building all sorts of things, but the most important thing they build at their regular meetings is mateship.
It’s also a place for those that are lonely, retired, or just want a challenge to go in and learn new skills.
President Ryan Knapp joined in 2020 after the death of his partner.
“That’s why I joined, my wife died two years ago and I was lost as to what to do,” he said.
“My daughter said, why don’t you join the Men’s Shed? So I came down and now I’m a fixture — they can’t get rid of me.”
Tom Blight, a regular at the Kyabram Men’s Shed, says the social aspect to their meetings is the most important part for him.
“The main thing about the Shed is not what we do as far as making stuff. But keep each other away from the four walls,” he said.
“For me the most important part of the Men’s Shed is the smoko shed. Where we can
go, have a chat and get things off our chest. Also to make friendships, because a lot of us live alone.”
The group has had to fundraise and be self-sufficient, as they have struggled to get any government support or funding. They have had to build the benches and install all the machines that they use to get creative.
David Morris, one of the original founders of the Men’s
Shed, decided to bring one to Kyabram after a trip to Queensland where he discovered one up there.
All the members joke that he didn’t have to travel far to find a Men’s Shed with the very first one being formed in Tongala, which is about 16km from Kyabram.
The idea was soon embraced by many other communities, and it spread from the Goulburn Valley
to the world. There are now around 1400 Men’s Sheds in operation around the globe.
Kyabram’s Men’s Shed started in 2013, with the original precinct based at Crichton Rd. They moved in 2016 to Albion St, where they are currently based, as numbers grew.
The group is willing to do little jobs for the community for free, as long as materials are provided for.