Today (the 18th of December 2009) The Entrance Men’s Shed held it’s Christmas BBQ. There was a good turnout for the occasion with Shed members, partners, children and grandchildren.
Even the rain couldn’t dampen the attendees spirits and everyone enjoyed a banquet table loaded with food. The young ones enjoyed lolly bags and ice-blocks while the adults were keen to win one of the raffle prizes (donated by Pelican Pete).
This was a great way to end the year and everyone at The Entrance Men’s Shed wish you all a safe and Merry Christmas. We’ll see everyone back when The Shed reopens on Monday the 11th of January 2010.
Shed member Michael has been keen to make a chopping board for his Mum.
He enlisted the assistance of shed member Bob and together they have: cut and dressed the timber, glued and clamped the components and turned the edge and polished the board on the lathe. Well done Michael!
Australian Hearing dropped in to The Entrance Men’s Shed today to perform hearing tests on five of the men in The Shed on the day. A couple of our members were referred on to their testing centre in The Entrance for a followup consultation.
This is a good reminder that we need to keep up with wearing PPE, including hearing protection!
Howard has a hearing test.
If you missed out on the tests, let the coordinator know and another testing day will be arranged for 2010.
The Official Opening of The Entrance Men’s Shed was held in the grounds of The Entrance Community Centre on the 27th of November 2009. Here’s some images and impressions captured on the day.
The plaque commemorating the shed opening was unveiled by The Mayor of Wyong Shire, Cr Bob Graham. Thanks to shed members Bob, Chris, Peter and ATB trophies for creation and installation of the plaque.
In the image below, Mort Shearer, President of The Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) addresses the gathering at the opening ceremony. In the other image The Mayor of Wyong Shire Cr Bob Graham chats with Kevin Armstrong–the president of The Entrance Men’s Shed.
Two displays from The Entrance Men’s Shed added some visual interest to the official opening. The first of these was Dave Betts’ kayak, the same kayak he paddled from Port Macquarie to The Entrance to raise community awareness of depression.
Likewise the Mobile Men’s Shed was in place to raise awareness of men’s sheds and their role in facilitating men sharing stories, mateship and mutual support.
The Entrance Men’s Shed was a hive of activity this morning as Shed members prepared for the Official Opening later in the day.
Shed member Rob cleaned the windows while other members assembled sandwiches on the large bench. Thankfully shed supporter Jo had put in the hard work the day before shopping and preparing ingredients for a light lunch of sandwiches, fruit platters and cakes. Thanks Jo!
The following is an edited text of a speech delivered by The President of The Entrance Men’s Shed at the Official Opening of The Shed on the 27th of November, 2009.
The idea of a Men’s Shed at The Entrance was probably first floated at a public meeting called by Wyong Shire Council at the primary school across the road. Boyd McMillan chaired that meeting, the aim of which was to gather community ideas for a possible Community Centre on the site of the former Infants School–where we stand today.
Several other influences pre-dated that meeting, firstly Apex. Geoff Dunn, Allan Kember, the late Lynn Sawyer and myself had been members of the Apex Club of The Entrance for many years. During one of our “working bees”, we built Koppers log playground equipment in this playground. Mateship and concern for our community underpinned that Committee and continues to this day.
At one stage, the NSW State Government planned to sell this site for medium density housing. This caused strong community outrage, led by WATCH (Wyong Action to Curb High-rise) and the Community Environment Network – CEN. Members of WATCH here today include Tom and Elizabeth Lyons, Helene and Keith Ford and Jim Price–we are grateful that their actions some years ago helped keep this site available for community purposes.
The Entrance Community Centre we enjoy today is a tribute to the community activism of WATCH and CEN–the former opposing high rise in The Entrance, the latter wishing to preserve the rainforest area on the lower section of this site.
The outcome from many protests, letters and negotiations over several years was that Wyong Shire Council negotiated acquisition of the top third of this site as a Community Centre, the State government retained the middle third to be sold for three story housing and the bottom third of this site remains as rainforest and part of the Stepping Stones wildlife corridor connecting South Wyrrabalong National Park (Forresters Beach) to North Wyrrabalong National Park at North Entrance.
All those mentioned: Apex, WATCH, CEN and Wyong Shire Council can be justly proud of what has been created on this site. A special thanks to former Councillor Robyn Stewart.
In February 2007, a Steering Committee was formed–former Apexians Geoff Dunn, Allan Kember, the late Lynn Sawyer and myself were joined by Colin Kennedy and John Sharples, also by Bruce Evans and David Casey, then, somewhat later, by Kim Hopkins, our current Shed Coordinator.
We researched existing sheds, online and by site visits, gathering knowledge of what worked and what didn’t. We talked with Ruth van Herk from Uniting Care Ageing–sponsors at that stage of about fifteen sheds.
We worked out likely tasks–woodworking, metalwork–and what equipment we might buy, prioritized into three lists, depending on availability of money. We prepared an operational budget and we drew plans and layouts, all in anticipation.
Council engaged architects to develop plans for Stage Two of the Community Centre. We negotiated around the size of the proposed building and various additions–soundproofing so we didn’t become noisy nuisances to proposed adjoining housing, a toilet (older blokes don’t run very fast), an awning, a barbecue and a mezzanine floor. Council were good sports, and we won most of what we wanted–except the mezzanine floor.
A Men’s Shed is really about the hidden two-thirds of the iceberg, the men, blokes doing things together, whether that’s making or repairing something for themselves or the community.
A Men’s Shed is about mates sharing a cuppa or maybe a joke– blokes doing blokes stuff, if you like to put it that way. Men’s Sheds have positive health benefits for individuals, alleviating loneliness and isolation and reducing depression. Men’s Sheds also have social benefits: enhancing self esteem and creating cohesive communities.
In closing, I again thank members of the Steering Committee for their interest, support and commitment over what was an extended period whilst the Shed was being built.
It is also appropriate that I ask Mayor Graham to thank Wyong Shire Council for its strong support of The Entrance Men’s Shed, both in constructing this purpose-built facility and allowing its use on very generous terms. We look forward to that support continuing into the future.
Milestones in the history of The Entrance Men’s Shed
On the last operational Shed day before the Official Opening (on the 27th of November 2009), it was all hands on deck to ensure that all new equipment was assembled and operational.
Shed member Bob assembled the new planer while shed members Peter (hampered by a fractured arm) and Allan checked the Triton work table. At the same time shed members Howard and Rob assembled and tested the thicknesser.
Shed members Chris, Kevin, and Allan sorted out the required components for each machine, and they’re pleased to report there was only a few of the inevitable left-over parts!
The committee and members of The Entrance Men’s Shed take great pleasure in inviting you to the Official Opening of The Entrance Men’s Shed.
The opening will be held at 12 noon on the 27th of November 2009, at The Entrance Men’s Shed, located in The Entrance Community Centre, Battley Ave, The Entrance. At 12:30pm the Mayor of Wyong Shire, Mr Bob Graham will perform the official opening.
Men’s sheds have become recognised as relaxed, creative spaces for men to meet and form friendships. The Men’s Shed movement aims to promote the health and well-being of men in the community and provide shared spaces for men to support each other.
Please RSVP by 20th November to Kim Hopkins (temensshed@yahoo.com.au) or by phone 0414 855 943. Please let us know if you have any access or dietary requirements.
Sponsors of The Entrance Men’s Shed include:
Wyong Shire Council
Mingara Recreation Club
Dave Betts – Nailing Depression
The Wyong Shire CDSE Committee
The Entrance Men’s Shed project was funded through the NSW Government Area Assistance Scheme.
In an earlier post we highlighted local fundraising champ Dave Betts, who has been kayaking from Port Macquarie to The Entrance to raise funds for Men’s Sheds and support the “Let’s Nail Depression” initiative.
Shed members from the Central Coast turned out today to welcome Dave Betts and his team as they paddled into The Entrance at the pelican feeding area, after their epic paddle from Port Macquarie.
Shed members from The Entrance Men’s Shed were ready to give Dave a loud cheer and applause as he arrived. Shed members from Bateau Bay and Gosford were also on hand, in recognition of Dave’s support of Central Coast sheds.
A group of men hosted by The Samaritans organization visits The Entrance Men’s Shed on Fridays.
Peter, Allan, Billy, Fred, and Trent have all been busy working on projects, including: assembling wine racks, making photographic place mats, and applying finishes to other projects.
Some of their projects are drying by the gates in the image below.
A Kayak Journey from Port Macquarie to The Entrance raising funds for Men’s Sheds.
In October this year, Dave Betts is undertaking a kayak paddle from Port Macquarie to The Entrance in his kayak–aptly called “The Hammer”, to raise money for Men’s Sheds. A journey of over 300km, Dave is aiming to raise in excess of $50,000 for the Sheds at The Entrance and Port Macquarie.
Depression is often silent, it impairs the way a person would normally function, including being able to communicate their feelings openly. Depression stops people from doing the things they normally would. The longer it lasts, the deeper into depression they go and the more silent and lonely their world becomes.
This is why, quite often, the way out of depression is in doing anything that gives you a sense of purpose. Mingara’s Construction Manager, Dave Betts, understands entirely because he’s been there.
While it’s an ongoing, perhaps, never ending process, Dave is now finding ways to help others battling the silence and through his own journey, Dave has found a love of kayaking, with exercise a key in helping people manage anxiety, depression and mental health in general.
Shed members recently attended the official opening of The Entrance Community Centre. A number of people turned up on a beautiful spring day to see the facility provided by Wyong Shire Council.
President of The Entrance Men’s Shed, Kevin Armstrong, took the opportunity to thank the Mayor of Wyong Shire, Bob Graham, and Wyong Shire Council, for the construction and support of The Shed.
Everyone attending agreed the day was a great success and a credit to the organizers.
The mobile men’s shed has been doing good work up at Swansea Men’s Shed. The mobile shed can be towed to events and facilities and setup to raise the profile of men’s sheds.
The Swansea Men’s Shed team have used it for a number of weekend events and also taken it to the local shopping centre to generate interest in their Men’s Shed Project. The mobile shed generated interest wherever it was located and eventually lead to eight new members joining the Swansea Men’s Shed.
The Entrance Men’s Shed recently purchased and installed a second sawdust extractor system. With more projects being worked on in The Shed, the new extractor will make operating the table saw and linisher safer and cleaner.
Shed members Allan and Rob installing the extractor.
The Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) have recently issued The Entrance Men’s Shed an official Certificate of Membership. The framed certificate now hangs proudly on the southern wall of The Shed.
Shed members have been busy during July working–amongst other things–on new benches for The Shed. In the images below Shed members Geoff, Alan, Rob, Peter, and Michael are constructing benches and considering the old saying “measure twice, cut once”!
Alan, Rob and Michael working on saw side-benches.Geoff and Alan construct a new bench.Geoff considers “measure twice, cut once”!Peter, Geoff, Bob and Michael install a new bench vise.
Thanks to generous donations The Shed now has a good selection of timber for turning on the lathe stacked up and ready to go:
The Mobile Men’s Shed is headed north to the Hunter region. Bill Geary and Noel Matthews towed the trailer for an event on 25 July in Swansea.
Mingara Recreation Club have generously donated two noticeboards to The Entrance Men’s Shed. Shed members had the noticeboards quickly installed and they are now doing their job of displaying notices and photos for shed members.
We’d like to thank Dave Betts from Mingara Recreation Club who not only organized the donation but also loaded the ute and delivered the noticeboards direct to The Shed.
The Entrance Men's Shed 