5th December 2024

I am so pleased that Bunnings, in the form of the Activities Organiser, Isabella, continue to ask the Weston Creek Men’s Shed to support their Family Nights.

From small beginnings a few years ago, the Bunnings Community initiative has really taken off. This last event saw over 1750 people come through the doors into the special events area set up in the woodshed section off the store.

Myself, Warren, John, Mick and Pat turned top at 530pm, to unpack the components for our build and set up the stall. This time around we were helping the children put together five pieces of wood to make a tea-candle holder. Assembly involved wood-glue and 10 small nails.

Some children could barely lift he hammer, sone were super confident already, but all seemed to enjoy the experience and beamed with joy and pride as they gave their creations to the lucky parental recipient.

We started on the dot of 6pm and apart from running to get some water to rehydrate ourselves, we didn’t look up until 8pm when they called time on the event. It was just as well as we had run out of materials only a minute beforehand.

I’ve done a few of these events now and thoroughly enjoy the experience of interacting with the children and the people in general. Well done to us, to the public and a huge well-done to Bunnings for making it all happen.

2nd December 2024

We were invited back by the Denman Prospect people to run the BBQ again this year at their Christmas Picnic that they put on for the community that has formed around the Denman Prospect development.

It was hot, we had lost our leading chef de snag because Lno had broken his wrist, and we had been pushed back from Friday to Monday. The postponement was a good call, Friday afternoon the heavens opened up and it absolutely bucketed down. But Monday was perfect. Did I mention it was hot! 3 hours in front of a blazing BBQ making just that much hotter again. But we can’t complain, we were out there mixing with the community, that’s our community, and we made a comfortable profit on the day.

A bit of a shout out to Gabriella Byrnes. Marketing Manager | Capital Estate Developments, for doing a fantastic job of organising everything, making it happen on the day, and of course, for inviting us. Thanks Gaby!

28th November 2024

Another great outing with the WCMS crew. We had our little bus again and 12 of us went out to the Hall Men’s Shed to have stickybeak around. They were very welcoming and showed us all around before insisting that we have a huge morning tea. They had arranged a private tour for us of the Hall School Museum, which is terrific. All the big boys telling tales about their school daze. Sounds to me as if they were all likely lads as boys, causing trouble and being up to no-good. All in all a really pleasant and enjoyable outing.

Big thanks to the Hall Men’s Shed men.

21st November 2024

As it has now become a bit of a tradition, we again had lunch at the Shed. We had roast turkey and cold ham, we had baked potatoes and pumpkin and all kinds of vegetables and we drowned the lot in gravy. Then we backed up for Christmas pudding and custard. Thanks to everyone for cooking and setting up and helping out and cleaning up. This is so much better than being at a club! Had a great day, looking forward to next year.

2nd November 2024

This is one of our community efforts for the year. We go and run the BBQ at the SJV fete. This is always great hard work but great fun and a fabulous way to interact with the community at large.

23 October 2024

A group of our men went in the bus that we hired and went out to visit the Tarago Men’s Shed, with a side visit to the Women’s Shed where they had lunch. From reports I believe that the men had a great day out, so thank you Tarago Men and Women Shedders

10th October 2024

A few of us visited Belconnen Men’s Shed where we joined a bunch of other shed blokes in an RUOK session, which was quite interesting and informative.

Belconnen Men’s Shed then put on a great spread for lunch, so thanks to them for hosting the day.

September 13, 2024

We were invited by Dell Corporation (large American company that makes computers) to give a presentation at their Wellness Day. This was a great opportunity to reach out to some younger men and tell them what a wonderful thing a Men’s Shed is, and ours in particular!

The talk went well and I think that they appreciated it. The things is, even if only one man took our card or a fridge magnet, or if one man went to get a check-up from his doctor, then it was worth while.

They also had a presentation given by the Women’s Shed Canberra. The ladies present, Sunita, Rachel and Pauline, gave an interesting overview of their Sheds history, its aims and dreams and how it affects the lives of many, many women in Canberra. Their shed has a very different business model to the traditional Me’s Shed. They have instituted many formal classes, both hands on and eLearning and attract many members, of all ages. It is a very active and enervated group of women! They also have a full time instructor, a man who used to work at Thors Hammer, who oversees the workshop activity and gives both one-on-one and group instruction.

Well done them!

Report and Images : Brian Black

July 30th 2024

Our workshop men have been busy building the first of a series of Mud Kitchens. A mud kitchen is a toy / play kitchen for young persons to use while they pretend to cook just like dad, well at least the mud will be familiar.

This project was sponsored by the IMB Bank from their Communities fund, and we express our sincere thanks for their involvement. Torrens pre-school were the first to express an interest in the project and so they have received the prototype. We have requests for quite a few more and hope to be able to source, build and deliver, at no cost, at least eight to the various pre-schools and daycare centres in our area.

July 9th, 2024

Members of the Shed visited the Tram depot at Mitchell for a tour. Tony Burns gives this report:

We had the royal dozen of us but I have to admit that list of attendees has got lost. We arrived at 10.15 and got into hi-vis vests. Had 2 guides who took us through – even into main viewing room. Cameras everywhere, all over the system and at all stations. We left about 11.45 but decided to have lunch at Raiders Club in Weston. Finished up back at the Shed around 2.45. All had a great day, even Mr Anti-rail himself, Lindsey. He complained the whole time but finally admitted that he thought it was a good outing! So we finally got through to him and hope to see him on one of the trains going from Woden to Civic, when completed.

Report : Tony Burn

We also received this follow up email from ACT Transport

Report : Canberra Metro Operations

Images : Tony Burns