The Beginning of the Men’s Shed Concept in Grenfell.

By Len Wallace

In 1985 I was nominated for the position of Welfare and Pensions Officer by the members of the Grenfell RSL Sub-Branch. During the next sixteen years working with veterans, and their families who came to seek help and direction, I gathered knowledge of the State and Federal Health Systems and identified some gaps between the services they provided and the needs of the men I was working with.

While working in this welfare role with predominately men, the most common issues that arose were the difficulty in handling retirement, life after a stroke, depression, and coping after losing a life partner. For many, coming to terms with these situations can be catastrophic.

In 1988, at the welcome home parade in Sydney for the Vietnam Veterans of Australia, there was a water shed of feelings within the ranks of the whole Vietnam Veterans community. Service mates found each other once again after more than twenty years. For many the emotion was too great when they discovered that so many of their comrades had committed suicide over the intervening years. For me this was also a fact. Seven members of the old platoon had ended their lives this way. But the positive outcome of this event was that eight of us now maintain contact and have been a great support to each other during the years since.

This helped me greatly to realise that many older veterans from earlier wars have experienced much of the same realities relating to their own circumstances and so helping different veterans with their DVA claims and pension entitlements was achieved with compassionate understanding.

The outcome of being involved in this area produced a situation I was not ready for. A number of these men kept turning up on my doorstep, not just for a few minutes but, in some cases, hours. One elderly fellow collected tin toys but had trouble repairing them, being a tinker myself with wood and metal, I suggested we tackle them together. Before long, the toy collector, the miniature steam modeler, the stroke victim and a man whose wife just wanted him out from under her feet were visiting the workshop.

These men were lonely and just wanted company. Some of them found difficulties in socializing. So for the next few years, this was the situation. Getting the time to accomplish the chores around our home became a task in itself. There was a constant offer of help but one does enjoy his and her time in their own garden.

Realistically this situation could not continue. There was a down side. My wife's cooking was disappearing at a fast rate and I was loosing my own shed. Something had to be done, but what? The answer came when invited in 2002, to a meeting at the local Community Health facility were the speaker was a lady from The Department of Veterans Affairs. The topic was applying for community grants. Bingo! That was the answer, a grant to establish a Shed for Men, focused on the increasing needs of veterans and mental health issues relating to men within the local area.

A public meeting was called for the evening of the 23^rd of June 2003 to gauge our community interest for the beginnings of a Men's Shed in Grenfell. Twenty people came; six representing the local Lions Club, five from the RSL, a police Officer, two town band members and one each from the Weddin Shire, Rotary, Chamber of commerce, Health Council, a Community Health worker and a Catholic Priest. This was the result from approaches to over forty groups and organizations in the town.

Prior to this meeting much work had already been done seeking approval from Rail Estate, as it was known at the time, for the use of the former goods shed on their property for such a venture. At first the railway people were hesitant about a venture such as this. But after many phone conversations and personal contact, they agreed to look at the proposal.

By July a group of fellows had come together and monthly meetings had commenced with the numbers swelling to around thirty interested men to set the wheels in motion. Early in 2003 the then group of members had met monthly at a local pub. By August of that year an Executive had been elected, comprising a School Principal as President, a local businessman Secretary, an unemployed man Treasurer and the local Economic Development and Tourism Officer being the Publicity coordinator. I was the RSL Sub Branch Representative and took on the job of project manager.

In August 2003 the concept of the Grenfell Men's Shed was officially launched from a meeting of the Grenfell RSL Sub Branch.

The elected Executive then convened a series of meetings with the Veteran Affairs Network community advisor, to seek advice on applying for a funding grant through the Dept. of Veterans Affairs.

For a while the EDO took a very active role in the position of publicity officer. He organised for me to speak at a Rotary Club meeting, of which he was a member. He later contributed to the compiling and funding application work, which was a huge task for our small executive.

Negotiations were also under way with the coordinator of Weddin Community Services, a lady who also gave a lot of her time, for auspicing arrangements in terms of public liability etc.

Initially the target groups of men were veterans and other elderly males. There were at that time some seventy five members of the veteran community in the shire, with a large proportion of them being also involved in the local RSL Sub Branch. Later we began reaching out to the lower social economic group, the unemployed and physically impaired men too.

Grenfell, is a small geographically isolated rural community, economically reliant on the farming sector, and according to census data, the area is also economically challenged in terms of average weekly earnings. I was encouraged however by the realisation that in the local arena there were men who were time rich. This would be a chance to encourage these men to come together, socialise and share their skills with others. Hence our Mission Statement:

To enjoy each others company and promote self worth and work ethics, while developing and sharing skills for the benefit of both the individual and the community.

This statement has been of great benefit to the shed and its members over the years continually reminding all who we are and setting goals for the future.

A number of hurdles needed to be overcome in obtaining and restoring the old Railway Goods Shed that had fallen into disrepair over the years since the railway ceased operations to Grenfell. The floor in the main shed area had huge gaps, the pigeons had commandeered the place and needed to be sent packing. The office on the end was almost non existent, there was no electrical connection, nor had there ever been. A letter was sent to Country Energy for assistance and one month later a pole appeared and the power was on. An electrician donated his time and labors in the wiring, a security company in Sydney donated over one thousand dollars worth of security systems and alarms, local support and materials allowed the water to be connected, but best of all, State Rail provided materials so that around fifteen men some in their eighties, held, hammered, sawed and painted, enabling the old Goods Shed a new lease of life, to what it is today - the Grenfell Men's Shed.

In September 2003 we received a telephone call from John Cobb MP the Federal Member's office advising that our submission for funds from DVA had been successful and the $20,000 sought had been approved.

The Grenfell Record, our local newspaper, ran a front page success story news item, and the members were ecstatic. We were now ready to go. Through the efforts of a local business we were able to access at cost price, most of the tools and equipment needed to fit out the workshop. Much excitement was created as the toys for boys began to arrive, and all hands were on deck when the larger equipment, such as the metal lathe and milling machine, needed to be moved into place.

On the 17^th of July 2004 the Grenfell Men's Shed was officially opened by the Honorable John Cobb the Federal Member for Parkes. It was a freezing cold day and around forty people came along. The local SES provided a large tarpaulin erected out the side of the building to protect people seated out side from the rain. John Cobb has been back twice since then, so have a number of other politicians. The Grenfell Shed has now been featured in a host of print and other media.

The shed is addressing social issues relating to men, such as idleness, loneliness and crime prevention. We are working successfully with younger males, providing them a chance to gain experience and learn skills necessary for future employment. The offering towards certain criteria of respite care, is another role the shed concept is able to achieve. Respite is a service not easy to come by in regional communities.

The entire Shed is run by volunteers, including the day to day opening, running and closing. Events organised to assist in raising the funds to keep us going, are all voluntary. It is very hard work preparing the days activities.

There is a steady stream of interested outsiders who visit us each week.  Other communities have heard about us. There are constant inquires for information and tours of the complex, in preparation for beginning a similar venture. We have been excited and challenged by the regular invitations received to showcase our concept and give out information to other communities.

The Shed achieved four further funding grants in 2006. One from DVA for the purchase of a decommissioned railway dinning car, which we use as a meeting, dining and function area. It is now self contained with kitchen and amenities. We received two grants from the FRRR Seeds of Renewal program, used to provide us with air conditioning, heating, ramp access and so on. The other was an ABC Australian Open Gardens grant, which will enable us to establish a garden area.

In 2003, when as a small group we laid the foundations of this concept, we did not perceive the needs even of such a small community as Grenfell - the needs of veterans, retirees, the unemployed, men affected by drought, the stroke victim and the academically challenged teenager. Most have had a life change being involved in the daily activities undertaken at this Shed.

In September 2004 The Shed was approached by the Henry Lawson High School in regard to a year nine student they felt could benefit from the practical experience he may gain from encounters with older men within the membership. He took to it like a duck to water. Within a month his self esteem was raised dramatically. Social and other skills improved also. He came to the shed every Wednesday for five hours during school terms for two years. In his second year, two of his wood work entries in the local show achieved a first and second prize. He learnt wood work and basic horticulture during his time at The Shed and he has since moved on into the workforce, continuing to regularly call in for a visit to give us an update on his activities and the Horticulture Course he is doing at TAFE. Boys from two different schools are in attendance at the shed in 2007 and achieving similar results.

The shed complex is open three days each week and at present caters for around eight to ten individuals each day. Some fellows just hang around, sit and talk, others work together on projects or items for repair that are brought in by members of the community.

Do we need to be taking a step back in our thinking?

Men from many walks of life are looking to the Men's Shed concept. Initially every Men's Shed is set up to meet the needs presenting at that time. But as the membership changes the Shed needs to also, otherwise it will suffer from the same problems besetting so many community groups in this present age. Men have learnt from the years since World War Two. The male role in society is an integral part of community life and we as males need to understand where we are at individually and also as a group. Accepting the transient times in which we are living, evidenced by the revolving door of change in most aspects of life, the emphasis needs to be on verbal communication and relationship building in our post modern society. The Shed environment can assist in providing this, but interrelationship with community health systems and services is essential, if we are to meet the needs being presented by society today.

Retirement. What is it?

Men's Sheds work with the individual, to fight against the idea that retirement is just "filling in time until I die&". It is not just filling in time until my health fails and I go to a hostel or nursing home. It is not even hoping that I just die doing something I am enjoying.

In the activities of the shed we look out to greater goals and outcomes in the directions that really count in the lives of men as well as re-establishing their role in the community, sense of worth and achievement in a society that all people should be freely able to acquire.

Men and women retire from the work force for many different reasons and with many different expectations. I meet people who try one style of retired life, then are brave enough to say this is not what I want. A bank manager needs to have a period of re adjustment every bit as much as the farmer. One may be able to afford the world trip or holiday of his dreams, the other may not. But they will both have many similar issues to adjust to.

As a society today we often look to what is the "norm"? And rarely is a job for life anymore. Contractual arrangements are becoming common for living in the twenty first century. It is well known how we all kick the bricks when it comes to change especially if it is forced upon us. Age, illness, finances, or even family situations, can force any one of us into changed circumstances in life.

Research now shows us that men do not react to or accept change as well as women. The older we get the greater the changes we seem to have forced upon us. Help is needed and community spirit is failing fast in our social welfare society divided by wealth more than ever.

The Men's Shed concept offers a different way to try and combat many issues that are increasingly weighing down men in our communities. As men we have to come to terms with the reality that "we are not bullet proof".

I have dug holes, built stone walls listened to music relaxing in a reclining chair, attended counseling sessions to help combat trauma, depression, and being at a loose end. Through it all I came to realize and coined the phrase that, "Creation through the hands can change the perception of the mind."

In this part of my story I've shared the privilege of working with men and I have gained experience and understanding of how men relate and perceive life.

For further information

Contact	:	Len Wallace
Mobile	:	0427 317 902
Email	:	fitchs@bigpond.net.au

WWW

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www.myspace.com/thegrenfellshed