Moree Men's Shed receive visit from executive officer David Helmers

As part of a trip around rural New South Wales, Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) executive officer David Helmers dropped by the Moree shed.

Based in Newcastle Mr Helmers said he enjoyed regularly catching up with shed members around the 980 sheds Australia-wide.

Mr Helmers has represented AMSA at the senate hearing into men’s health, the national round table meeting on the men’s health policy as well as continuously lobbying for the association and its members at all levels of government.

“It is great to stay in touch, to see what’s going in the shed world and convey that back to the government so we can try to get more funding for local men’s sheds,” he said.

Moree Men’s Shed president Peter Sampson said the visit shone a light on what was going in the rural and remote shed of Moree.

“David had a chance to see how we work, what we’ve been doing and compare us to different sheds around. Its great to have someone here from the association,” Mr Sampson said.

Mr Helmers said 80 percent of the 980 Australian shed were based in rural and remote areas. He added only 40 were based around Sydney and 40 in the hunter/central coast area.

The Moree Men’s Shed were also able to share some items on their wish list with Mr Helmers which included a new shed for members to call their own.

“We are still looking for a new shed but in the meantime we have to be satisfied with what we have. At the moment we are working with Salvation Army to restore donated furniture.

Mr Sampson said furniture donated in a worn out condition would usually be taken to the tip however the new partnership allowed the Men’s Shed a chance to restore items to be sold in store at the Salvation Army.

“We will then receive an amount from the sale. Our first project is a beautiful, old cupboard,” he said.

Mr Helmers said the Salvation Army partnership was a good idea that could be fine tuned and implemented in a number of the Men’s Sheds Australia-wide.

To close out the visit, on behalf of the local Men’s Shed Mr Sampson handed one of their signature, hand made pens to Mr Helmers.

Men’s Shed member Don Quast said men from all walks of life were invited to join the local association.

“You know, it’s just about creating companionship,” Mr Quast said. The Moree Men’s Shed meets every Wednesday and Saturday mornings at 8am until 12pm. The cost of a yearly membership is $30 which covers insurance.

Everything is provided, especially a good cup of tea and all men are welcome to turn up and start creating with a bunch of like-minded men.