To Promote Men's Health in our Community
We now meet regularly Tuesday to Friday, 8:30 to 12.30 - DETAILS HERE
Activities at our Shed
TUESDAY MORNING AT THE SHED
The Main Weekly session at the Shed each Tuesday begins with the opportunity for a good chin wag and morning tea, currently attracting over 70 members.
By 10.00 am it is time for some real business. Ian Mackay gets things off to a noisy start when members sing the Shed Song. Next the essentials are dispensed, reports by President and Secretary and Activity Group leaders.
Often a guest speaker adds information on some essential topic, and we end as close to 11.am as possible, with the drawing of the weekly raffle.
11.00 am is the scheduled time for the weekly Round Table Discussion Group with Bill Glasson as Chairman.
Others prefer to go back to toil in the workshops, garden or whatever. On the last Tuesday of each month when we add a free Sausage sizzle lunch. then everyone leaves after 12 noon full of joie de Vie.
The Money Makers
Clearly, funding has been one of our most important objectives, and our most successful, since day one; hence its inclusion as the first item in this Publication. Many who become aware of the financial miracle of building our own Shed and completely paying for it; so that we have a freehold title and debt free ownership of our shed, are amazed.
We are a charity, registered to promote the betterment of mens’ health. Generous donors have given money to us for that sole purpose.
Our members match these incoming funds through volunteer effort at the Lions markets, raffles and project work for the community.
All that money is used wisely to create our premises and, via our leaders, the social atmosphere that is delivering our purpose.
The Workshops
We are so fortunate to have well equipped wood and metal workshops. Much of it donated. Overall, the number of active members in the workshops has slipped this year and Frank has assured newer members to the Shed that the Workshop Groups would be keen to introduce them to any workshop ma-chines and equipment and settle them in to safety routines.
The workshops of course have always helped members do small projects of their own at the Shed with a charge only being made for any major components they may need.
It is surprising the number of the public who call on the workshops. Some want to donate to us and some want to have small jobs done. The variety and number of requests never ceases to amaze, and it keeps the shed buzzing. Making picnic tables for Mooloolaba Fisheries, was a typical example.
The workshop also continues to complete smaller alterations and additions to our own shed, an example was the Northern side metal awning for sun protection.
The wood workshop made the sign for the Alexander Community Gardens
Gardening Group and the Urban Angels
Our original volunteer gardener John Grech who undertook to keep the Shed environs clean and tidy, has had the support of some regular hard workers on the lawn mowers and others who have responded to his calls for support with “clean up” working bees. John has also worked hard to establish his new initia-tive which is a productive veggie garden. He has taken over, not only any clear space he could find, on the property but also any and all spaces between shrubs and ornamental gardens. He now hands over his increasing fruit and vegetable crop on a regular basis, to the Urban Angels who provide meals to needy mem-bers of the public. The Shed is proud of John, and his helpers, in making a success of this ongoing community support activity.
As a result of John’s contribution, we have developed an ongoing relationship with Urban Angels who operate from a building almost next door. On their part they have on several occasions provided labour and sweets to help our own “Blokey” with the food service for our Christmas Parties held in the Shed.
Group Leader, Kevin Barker, has keeps the ball rolling for a few years now. He is a consistent advocate at our bi-weekly meetings, urging wider interest in this activity.
This year the group have concentrated on improving, or confusing themselves in some cases, knowledge of their mobile phones and the latest “apps”.
It seems, but is not admitted, that the objective of this Group is “keeping up with the grandkids”. May be that’s why this group has a smallish but loyal following.
Their actual objective is “Get to know the genie in your pocket”.
Kevin Barker, Technologi Guru
TECHNOLOGY GROUP
THE CAMERA GROUP
Another small but active Group keeps busy with a monthly photo competition, and regular field trips which not only keeps them in touch with the broader Sunshine Coast but also strengthens the social interaction among members.
With a showing of their efforts on the Notice Board in the Shed we are all kept up to date on Group Activities. We are supported by Ted’s Cameras, who also offer “Mates Rates” to all members.
An interesting innovation taken up by the group was to run a competition for members to take photos with their phone.
Photos with the theme comedy