The men’s shed movement has been a huge success in country communities across Australia.
The initiative was established to improve the health and wellbeing of blokes by providing a comfortable place – a trusty shed – for men to feel included and connected.
A men’s shed is a community-based, non-commercial organisation where members can get stuck into a variety of activities including woodwork and other manual crafts.
“Women are probably better at networking, looking after their heath and organising things than men,” said Wee Waa Men’s Shed member Ron Lowder about the reason for the initiative.
“I like coming to catch-up with people and I also like working with timber,” he said.
“At the moment, I’m making a dog ramp but you can also just come to sit down and have a yack – that’s fine too.”
“We reinvent the wheel here every week,” added member Rob Downey.
“You also don’t have to be old to come along, there’s no age limit, we welcome everyone,” said Mr Downey.
One member jokingly commented that the movement was established to provide “a place to go to get away from your wife” but in a more serious tone said the community shed was a good meeting spot to chat with mates and make new friends while working on different projects.
The Wee Waa Men’s Shed group has been meeting at the showground location since 2014.
Before the shed’s official opening, they would meet at the homes of different members.
The group now catch-up every Tuesday and Friday, on Fridays they enjoy smoko and lunch together.
When the The Courier visited the Men’s Shed, all members were very welcoming with Rob Downey making tea and coffees, Paul Webber serving up his delicious homemade scones and Ron Lowder had prepared a hot meal for lunch.
Members were also hard at work on a variety of projects including furniture restorations, making mini cotton bales for a company promotion and wooden crosses for a funeral business.
The group has previously crafted children’s toys, bird houses and display panels for the Wee Waa Show.
“It’s great to get together and it’s also good for people who are retiring and looking for something to do,” added Mr Downey.
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Ken Trindall, Les Parr, Brian Anderson and Frank Devoy enjoying a cuppa and a chat in front of the fire.
