Local shedders have resumed with their woodworking activity as the Canning Community Men’s Shed re-opened at its new location in Bannister Road, Canning Vale.
Secretary Ian Ross said members were absolutely delighted to get back to the shed, meet up with friends and get stuck into some projects.
“The shed offers a great opportunity for men in the Canning Communities to come and have a brew’n’chat with other men or get involved in the many working with wood activities,” he said.
“This is where men can talk to other men about any subject including physical and mental health, get physical with making projects for their home or for their children or grandchildren.”
Currently with 36 active members, the Canning Community Men’s Shed is looking for new members and has capacity in the shed for up to 100 members.
President Steve Pusey encouraged those in the community feeling lost or wondering what to do, to join the group and share a cuppa and a chat while getting support from experienced shedders to make things out of wood.
“We think we have a friendly group of guys willing to help each other and many of the guys enjoy additional social contact,” he said.
“We currently have a commission from the Castlereagh Special School to build nine custom designed stools, a commission soon to build two more street library boxes and members are building a variety of items including toy trucks, kitchen tools, toy drag cars, bird feeders and much more.
“We also have further expansion plans to build our own facility over the next two to three years.”
Founder and life member of the shed Eddie Holmes said the idea to start a men’s shed began in 2007 when he read in the local newspaper that two men in Fremantle discovered an old shed in White Gum Valley.
“The reason behind all of this was because they were becoming frustrated and lost for something to do,” he said.
“I decided to contact the Fremantle council, and to my surprise the person who answered the phone knew the two men concerned.
“On the next page of the same paper there was an article about the number of men who were committing suicide because they were bored as they had nothing to do and I decided that, that was going to be my platform.
“Twelve months later after knocking on doors, the City of Canning invited me to speak to them about forming a Men’s Shed”, they were all in favour of it.”
The shed is now open week days from 9-12am and new members are welcome.
People with disabilities are also welcome and there is a specific workbench available to them.
If you would like to join, call 0419 965 565.
