For about 25 years, the men’s shed on Worrough Rd has provided men in the region with a space for connection and an opportunity to create.
The Seymour shed is one of 1300 of its kind across Australia.
While each men’s shed looks different inside, they all work towards the same purpose: to encourage men to “talk to a mate”.
Seymour Men’s Shed president Terry Payne said, more than anything, men’s sheds were “very important to men’s health”.
“Most of the people here are those who find themselves at a loose end, they’ve finished their working life,” he said.
“In my own situation, I finished work when I was 67, and I’ve worked since my 14th birthday and have never been unemployed that whole time.
“Before I retired, I was working in retail and would talk to 30 or 40 people per day, and then I retired and all of a sudden all I talked to was the dog.”
During the three days a week that the shed is open, its 25 or so members often busy themselves by bringing commissioned work to life.
They could be making anything from wooden benches, to metal birdbaths, to their current project of Christmas decorations.
Mr Payne said they were also serviced the community without payment.
“We had a lady ring up, probably a month or so ago, and her daughter had died,” he said.
“She had her daughter’s ashes, and her daughter’s last wish was to be buried in a white box, so, we made her a nice little white box for her daughter and we didn’t charge her anything.
“We’re a community service.”
Mr Payne said, often, while the men were working, there would be chatter and laughter, and some men even came in just for a cup of coffee and a yarn.
“That’s what the men’s shed is all about — to talk to a mate, it’s an ‘are you okay?’ thing,” he said.
“I guess, all old blokes have bad days, I must admit, we all have bad days.
“They come out here, have a bit of a coffee and annoy each other. To my mind, it is really important to mental health to have somewhere to go.”
The shed is open between 9am and noon every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
All men in the region are welcome to join, with the annual fee being $50, which also includes a meal at Christmastime.
The shed is always looking for donations of items and machinery, but requests that people who wish to donate contact 0401 662 168 before doing so.
On Saturday, November 7, between 9am and 2pm, the shed will be hosting a community open day and garage sale, with more details on this event to come.
