WINGHAM Men’s Shed hosted a meeting of representatives of five Mid North Coast Men’s Sheds for a cluster group meeting.
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This particular cluster group of Men’s Sheds stretches from ‘Goolawah’, the Kempsey shed, south to Wallis Lakes.
The group used to belong to the Newcastle group, but the Mid North Coast members thought it too vast and decided to stick to their region.
Cluster group meetings occur every two months with different sheds hosting each time. The Wingham meeting was the third to take place, with the first being at Harrington and the second at Wallis Lake, at both of which nine sheds were represented .
The meetings used to take place more than six years ago but went by the wayside. Laurieton took up the idea to start the meetings again and the result has been a success, with members saying they have definitely found a benefit from the meetings.
Participants use the meetings to “thrash around ideas” and solve problems. It gives them a chance to see how other sheds operate, to view their machinery, and learn how they finance themselves.
“When we’re together we can discuss best practice, OHS, insurances and what to make for our wives to keep them happy,” Len Keogh of the Taree Manning River Shed said.
“They’re all sick of bread boards by now,” quipped Dave Pollard of the Harrington Shed.
All joking aside, the Wingham meeting resulted in a plan for the combined Men’s Sheds to host an expo in a year’s time, bringing all of the sheds in the Mid North Coast together.
The group will be seeking outside sponsorship, not just from suppliers such as Bunnings, but health and welfare services such as Beyond Blue and Hearing Australia, as Men’s Sheds are “not just about wood and metal work, but secret men’s business,” as one member said.
All Men’s Sheds in the zone will be approached to become involved, from Coffs Harbour down to Bulahdelah and west to Gloucester.
For further information on the Australian Men’s Shed Association and to find a shed near you, visit www.mensshed.org.