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Ashfield, NEW SOUTH WALES

Men's shed - a place for men to meet and help the community

Veterans and other members of the community are reaping the rewards of a men's shed project established in Sydney's inner west with a Veteran & Community Grant from the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Ashfield Municipal Council in partnership with the St Vincent de Paul Society has established a weekly meeting group for men, where participants build woodwork objects of use to the local community.

The need for this sort of activity was identified after the council conducted a broad based needs survey of issues facing men of post-retirement age. An advisory committee was established to oversee the grant application process and the formation and management of the group.

Janine Fullin from the council says the men's shed project gives men a chance to meet and make friends while at the same time doing something positive for their community.

Every week the men gather at the Mary MacKillop Outreach Centre to construct furniture, toys and other items for use by nursing homes, homeless shelters, schools and charities.

"At the moment the group isn't self-sufficient but we're hoping one day that it will be," Janine says. The group plans to rally further community and business support in order to maintain its services.

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The Department's grant funding allowed the group to purchase tools and materials for the project.

"Many members of the group have been coming every Friday for almost a year. They just love spending time and being productive together in the shed," she says.

According to Janine, the men's shed project has been so popular there is a significant waiting list to join the group. "Some of these men are from the other side of Sydney. They don't mind travelling, they just want to be part of it."

She says the group endeavours to meet the needs of the veteran community by keeping in close contact with the local RSL Sub-branch. A member of the Sub-branch sits on the men's shed advisory committee and the Sub-branch has made a small financial contribution to the project. At the moment more than 50 per cent of those involved or benefiting from the project are from the veteran community.

Ashfield Municipal Council gave about $14,000 to help set up the group and has budgeted to contribute about the same amount during 2002-03.

Janine says support has also been received from within the local community. A city glass manufacturer has come forward with wood recycled from used glass pallets. Workers at the warehouse even break the pallets down to make it easier for the volunteers.

A 'win-win' for veterans and the community

Project: to establish a meeting place for veterans where they can use their skills to create objects, such as furniture, for use by the community.

DVA contribution: $16,500

Community benefits: men are given a chance to meet and make friends and the community receives much needed furniture and equipment.

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