When Greg Davies’s wife died of breast cancer, his world was shattered.

“I wasn’t looking after myself, so I came here,” he said.

“Here” is the Evans Head Men’s Shed at the airpark.

It’s where the blokes meet to have a cup of tea and a chat. They make things – but that isn’t the point, Greg said.

It’s about the mateship. Without it he wouldn’t have got through his wife’s death, he said.

Greg is keen for other men in the area to pop in and “have a yarn” and see what the men’s shed is all about.

They are involved in a range of activities – making legs for trestle tables, helping assemble flatpack furniture, making breadboards and making bird nesting boxes.

“We’re here to help everyone out,” Greg said.

The men’s shed is a safe space for men to talk about how they’re feeling, about prostate and other health issues and life in general.

They cook a lunch and eat together and help others in the community with cooked meals.

As one of only two men’s sheds on private land in NSW, the Evans Head group is restricted in the state government grants they can apply for.

They’d like to upgrade the kitchen and money raised for that comes only from the sale of tables, cupboards and toys made by the men.

All are welcome on Mondays through Thursdays, 9.30am–3pm. Call Greg on 0432 114 124 for more information.

This article appeared in the Richmond River Independent, 2 June 2021.