MEN’S SHED ALLOWS WOMEN ... ON ONE CONDITION
THE lads from Oxenford Men’s Shed have come up with a novel way to attract more members – they’re opening their arms to women.
The club has officially voted to allow females to join its ranks despite the very maleness of men’s sheds being promoted as one of the movement’s greatest assets.
Oxenford Men’s Shed secretary Les Chapman said an overwhelming majority of members had backed the motion with a special condition to partly appease a very important interest group – their wives.
“I think there’s a shed in New South Wales where the women go at the same time as the men but that won’t be happening here,” he said.
“A couple of us will need to be there to teach them how to handle the tools but they’ll be using the shed on the days we don’t … some of us have wives or partners and we don’t want them thinking we’re at the shed hanging out with other women.
“We consistently have about 65-70 members and if we can get bigger numbers, it’ll hopefully help us raise more funds and get some more grants.”
The Australian Men’s Shed Association, which supports almost 1000 clubs, says the decision to welcome female members is “entirely a local one”.
Mr Chapman said some members had expressed concerns about the decision to roll out the red carpet for the fairer sex.
“I asked one mate why he voted no and he said ‘I suppose I was just worried they’d be here when we are and start telling us what to do’,” he said.
“Another bloke asked if we’d have to change the name when the women start coming and I said ‘We’ll always be the Men’s Shed’.”
The club will host a Women’s Open Day on August 17.
For more information email oxenfordmensshed@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/ MensShedOxenford