The Coolah Mens Shed
Coolah Mens Shed
Mission Statement:
"To enjoy each others company and promote work ethics while skill
sharing for benefit of self and community, and to provide emotional
support for those in need."
Rationale: Coolah is a small rural service town and surrounding
community in Central West NSW.
There is limited opportunity for men to socialise and get together to
discuss mens interests.
There is little opportunity for men to access mental health and general
mens health advice facilities locally other than the Doctor and Hospital.
Aims of the Coolah Mens Shed:
1. Improving the self esteem of men.
2. Reduce social isolation of men in the Community.
3. Supporting young men in the community.
4. Intergenerational mentoring.
5. Sharing knowledge and skills.
6. Encouraging social interaction.
7. Providing emotional support at all times to those in hardship.
8. Provide guest speakers for mens health and mental health
9. Provide assistance for those suffering depression, and help prevent
suicide.
10. To provide and teach proper OH&S safety procedures and skills
to members so they may use equipment and tools with safety
The Project.
To purchase and erect an approximately 200 square meter shed
To Insulate the shed and provide heating (probably efficient wood
heating) and cooling
(evaporative cooling) The reason for this is that winters can be cold
and older men may not
come if they are in an unheated building.
To connect the building to water, power, telephone and sewerage.
To provide proper lighting
To equip the shed with toilets and a kitchen to prepare food for smoko
and lunch.
To provide enough chairs and tables so members may meet
and eat lunch.
To equip the shed with necessary tools, equipment and dust collection
equipment.
To provide broadband Internet access and several networked
computers for the use of members.
Cost of Shed
$40000
Tools and Equipment
$10000
Four Stages of Development
1. Getting Interest
* Scope the potential
* Establish steering committee
* Identify available resources
* Establish partnership potential
2. Getting Ready
* Prepare business, financial and work plan
* Find the premises
* Form organisation
* Deciding on the activities
3. Getting Started
* Membership development
* Implement plans fund raising, partnerships
* Commence operations
* Start health programs
4. Getting Sustainable
* Financial independence
* Mature membership
* Established health and other programs
* Reputable Board, stable organisation
Men Need to Regain Lost Support
Family units are disintegrating. We see fathers, mothers, grandparents,
in-laws, uncles, cousins, all too busy elsewhere or, they have passed
on. Some people will say men don't need assistance, emotionally,
physically or socially, which is far from reality?
Many older men need someone they can share thoughts and
experiences with, as their traditional support has all but disappeared.
Many young men need someone to understand and show them how to
do what they want to do, help them work through their emotional issues
and learn some new life skills.
It all starts with contacting your local men's shed.
Men can become involved with their local men's shed
in the following ways:
1. Become a Member of Your Local Men's Shed
We suggest that a member of a men's shed pays a small joining fee
(usually $50-$100) and annual membership fee (usually $30 -$50), plus
giving an hour per week voluntary men's shed service. Members are then
entitled to use the facilities and equipment associated with the shed to
further their own interests and enjoy the other benefits of belonging to
a shed. These fees are used to defray the costs associated with
consumables like tea and coffee.
2. Become a Mate, or Friend of Your Local Men's Shed
There are many people, who visit men's sheds that would like to help in
some way. We would like you to join your local men's shed as a mate, or
friend, by making an annual contribution of say $100 (Mates Rates) to
the operation and expansion of the local men's shed activities.
There are also many individuals and companies who may also be able to
contribute in other ways such as supply of equipment or raw materials
that are surplus to their requirements that could be a significant help
in maintaining of a low cost structure.
Still other people may be able to offer their services in contribution
to the education of members contributing to the relief of men's health
issues. Just by visiting the shed and giving some time to help a Member
or two will make a big difference.
Still others may wish to become involved with the growth of their local
men's shed by becoming involved with the local men's shed executive.
The main aim of these all male support groups is to allow men to assess
themselves by looking inward through emotional problems and learning
new skills with a strong emphasis on emotional support. In doing this,
men are enabled to bond and form social support networks with other
members. Men's sheds fits into this criterion.
The idea of the ‘shed' as a place where isolated men get away from
the ‘missus' has been turned on its head. A shed is where isolated
men go to get together with others, mostly other men. This is very
much in keeping with the work and war history of many men. This
communal connection is also a deeply cherished aspect of the traditional
life of Indigenous men. The evidence is mostly anecdotal at present,
but sheds are important for the flourishing of men, older men in
particular.
Health agencies should be enthusiastic about working with men on their
terms and "turf". They should respect the importance of making
room for experiences and create common ground. Finally they should
offer the expertise they have, when and as, the men request it.
It is important to recognise the significance of diversity when
considering the guidelines. Men are not all the same, or in other
words ‘one size does not fit all'.
Leadership is important in all of this and it resides in and between all
of us.
Members of men's sheds can work together to help save lives and to
minimise the problems brought about through isolation and loneliness,
found not only in regional areas, but also in our big cities,
particularly when men have to go through a transition; men do not
build networks outside of work, as well as women do.
We believe that well structured and well run men's sheds help men to
cope more easily, overcome their problems and ultimately do well for
themselves and for others in their community.
There are clear benefits of having a Men's Shed in a community:
•improved health and well-being of the men who live in the community
•improved family relationships
•improved involvement and integration of men into the community
•improved involvement, health and lifestyle of Indigenous men
•improved lifestyles for differently abled men and men generally
•improved career prospects for schoolboys, not doing well at school and
youth
•decreased unemployment and the associated health ramifications
•increased involvement of families in community activities
•improved interaction of farmers with their local communities
•improved services to those men that the health system finds are hard
to reach.
Women and men's sheds
When it comes to men's health and well-being it is the women and the
families that take the brunt of the problems. They too suffer the
stress and the pressure associated with men's issues when their men
folk fall apart. Why should they have to worry when their man takes the
gun with them when they go out into the paddocks?
A men's shed requires a holistic approach and men's sheds would not
function without the support of the women in the community.
Women need somewhere for their men to go, especially when they have
no hobbies and their self esteem is low as they go through the various
life transitions. Women need their space as well; they need to get the
men out from under their feet.
Most women say the same things:
•their men tend to treat them like mothers, asking what to do next
•many men feel hopeless, helpless and lost and is a reason why some
marriages breakdown
•women can find someone to talk to, some men can't; they need a
men's shed
•men won't talk about financial issues, they leave it to the women, who
collect the mail, do the banking and in many cases do the bookkeeping,
while men tend to ignore and just worry
•women are hiding the bills from their men-then crisis. "It will upset
him and I can't stand the agro, I leave it for a few days and it may
work itself out"
•women often say "I would rather have a husband than an award
winning executive"
•"I wish he would talk to me, I don't give a damn how bad things are;
we can work it out"
•men reach a stage where they don't know how to socialise.
Men's issues come about because men have no one to talk to. A men's
shed, providing the opportunity to talk, can maintain a degree of
happiness which leads to contentment for both men, women and the
rest of the family. Australian men are proud and tend to keep their
business to themselves and will not share their problems, without a
catalyst.
1. It is very important to get the Shire Council to give support in
writing and that they are prepared to make land available for the
building at a suitable place.
The local shire can provide a suitable site for a shed on council owned
land.
In return they get a good building, and a valuable social network and
asset, which is kept in trust for the community.
2. It is also very important to get as many letters of support from the
community as possible, especially from health professionals and agency's.
3. In early stages keep the numbers of the initial committee low, 6 is
plenty.
4. Local businesses can be very useful as partners.
5. Many community members have equipment which is spare to
requirements and can be given or loaned to the mens shed.
6. There are many sources of assistance to start up mens sheds from
other established mens sheds.
7. I began the task of finding out about mens sheds rather reluctantly,
believing there would be little interest.
I have to say I have had nothing but enthusiasm and generosity from all
quarters.
8. The committee should visit several established mens sheds quite
quickly
9. It is not too important to get a large membership to start up . Six
is enough to get going.
10 . Returned servicemen and especially Vietnam vets seem to be quite
prominent
11. A lot of Mens Sheds operate from temporary premises for a while
Churches and church groups are a great source of assistance.
