The concept of a Men’s Shed is simple: Men –and especially the lonely or those with a mental condition - get together for company, and to make new stuff, and to repair old stuff. They like to “Go home and feel they had done something useful”.
At lunch this week, we were lucky to hear from David Mee, co-ordinator of the Hawthorn Men’s Shed which was founded a few years ago with assistance from Uniting AgeWell and from Glenferrie Rotary (one of our daughter clubs.) We heard about
* inherently dangerous power tools and the associated safety issues;
* opening hours are restricted by a shortage of volunteers;
* two types of volunteers are needed: technically qualified, and socially adept;
* the NDIS is causing upheaval for some clients; and
* although the program is aimed at men, it is also open to women – and hence the title of this report: “When is a Men’s Shed Not?