The June Donald History Society Inc. meeting was held at the Courthouse Museum at 2 p.m. on June 10.

The fourteen members were present and they were privileged to hear a fine presentation about the Donald Men’s Shed given by History Society and Men’s Shed, member, John Kumm. John’s presentation was so well done that it has been reproduced here with no alteration and with just one of the many excellent photos that made up the slide show which ran continuously throughout his talk.

Donald Men’s Shed – A living story

It has long been recognised that men are much less likely than women to talk about issues that relate to health, feelings and emotions, particularly in mixed company.

As a result, many men tend to have issues relating to their health, loneliness and depression. These issues can also become more pronounced as men reach retirement age and lose many of the support structures that had been part of their working lives.

During the 1980s, a movement in Australia was formed to find ways to overcome these issues. As a result, community sheds started to appear to provide a space supported by local communities in which men were able to interact and develop appropriate activities.

These community sheds were inspired by the iconic Australian backyard shed, where a man would go and carry out tasks such as restoring furniture or fixing tools.

Men’s sheds can also be seen as a modern reinvention of Working Men’s Clubs and Mechanics Institutes of the nineteenth century “to provide recreation and education for working-class men and their families”.

In the beginning

The Men’s Shed movement originated in Australia during the late 1970s and the 1980s. Issues relating to men’s health and wellbeing provided a launching pad for the establishment of bodies that provided space for older men to develop skills and encourage social interaction.

The early development of these sheds was somewhat haphazard in those early years, with support being provided through local community groups, with no overarching bodies in place.

Foundation

During the early 2000s, the need for a national group to offer support, training and government advisory services was recognised. The Australian Men’s Shed Association was founded in 2007.

Men’s Sheds provide a safe, friendly and inclusive environment where men can meet and work on meaningful projects:

• At their own pace.
• In their own time.
• In the company of other men.

While there are more than a thousand Men’s Sheds in Australia, the concept has now spread throughout the world, with more than 3000 Men’s Sheds in 12 countries (and counting).

Research

Professor Barry Golding, a Donald expatriate, was heavily involved in research to the planning and delivery of the Men’s Shed movement in Australia. During these discussions, Barry and Peter “Soapy” Vallance began to look at the possibility of establishing such a shed in Donald.

The Donald Men’s Shed has become an important part of Donald’s community since its launch in 2006.

A meeting was held on June 9 to discuss the establishment of the Donald Men’s Shed, and as a result, and significant work from the inaugural members of the Shed’s community, the Donald Men’s Shed, under the auspices of the Donald Leaning Group, was officially launched by Professor Golding on August 4, 2006.

The location of the Donald Men’s Shed was previously used as the old Donald Show luncheon pavilion. This meant that the first activities for the Shed’s members involved removing and dismantling the tables and stools from the shed and setting up the original kitchen as their communal meeting area.

Development

The Shed has developed substantially since then, with an additional shed constructed on the vacant piece of land between the original shed and the Donald P&A pavilion and, more recently, a new shed to house the Donald Community Precinct’s groundskeeping equipment and a set of public-access toilets.

Members of the Donald Men’s Shed gather five mornings per week to work on projects, discuss local news and share a cuppa and biscuit with their mates.

They see themselves as a support facility for the people of Donald and surrounds, and are involved in a wide range of tasks, community service and activities.

Men’s Shed members bring a very wide range of skills and expertise to the Shed, and are very happy to pass on this knowledge to other members, as well as to help out other community support groups as needed.

Activities

Activities that have been provided to Donald community bodies include:

• Large book storage racks and refurbishing a “buddy bench” for the Donald Primary School.
• Assisting with Christmas decorations and a steel “Christmas tree” for Donald 2000.
• Providing a large nativity placard for the Granite Church.
• Managing the Agricultural Museum on behalf of the Donald History Society.
• Helping out when required for the Donald Helping Hands Op Shop.
• Providing support services for the Donald Learning Group and Community House.
• Developing street display Easter Eggs and timber Christmas trees.
• Providing best of show awards for the Donald Show Committee.
• Assembling seating and carpet storage units for the Donald Precinct Committee.
• Decoration and construction of bird nesting boxes for the Buloke Shire.
• Building horse stalls for the Donald Show Committee.
• Designing and building horse jump stands for the Donald Pony Club.
• And numerous others.

As well as these activities, we also offer support to individual people in the region. This may involve:

• Refurbishment of chairs.
• Renovation of fireplace surrounds.
• Assistance in transferring goods and furniture.

Opportunity

Of course, one of the most relevant factors that support the concept of the Men’s Shed is the opportunity for the guys to develop a sense of being part of a community of people with similar interests, and who are often facing similar issues in their lives.

This is why the morning tea aspect of operations is so important. A number of members show up simply to share some time each day with the others. This is a vital part of the Shed’s existence.

The importance of this aspect of activities was highlighted by Bob Baker, one of Donald’s most senior members. Bob often claimed that the Men’s Shed kept him alive for many years by giving him a reason to get up in the morning and to be a part of an active group

During the Covid lockdowns, it wasn’t possible to get together each day, and so it was necessary to come up with something that would keep members together during this difficult time.

Solution

The solution was the establishment of a group call which allowed members to join together in a virtual morning tea three mornings each week. This chance to keep the group going was particularly appreciated by those who were living on their own.

The Donald Men’s Shed has about 25 members at the moment, and usually has about 10 or so coming in each morning.

As with many of the clubs and societies in Donald, Men’s Shed tends to see the average age of its membership increasing year by year. The effect of this is that the physical ability as a support group also lessens.

The challenge is therefore to attract new and younger members to become part of the community. The group has recently purchased and installed a computer controlled routing machine that is capable of cutting and engraving timber material up to 2400 x 1200 mm (8 by 4 feet). The hope is that the opportunity to learn about and work with a modern woodworking tool may encourage some younger men to consider becoming a part of the community.

The group is currently seeking opportunities to promote the Donald Men’s Shed and its benefits for both its members and for the Donald community.

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 20 June 2025.