A local men’s group has hit the nail on the head in fostering social connections and hobbies for the retired community.
Chair Ken Smith said the shed acts as a meeting place for local men seeking purpose during retirement.
“Men need to do things and have a purpose in life, but once you retire, they’re a bit lost… they lose the focus of their life,” he said.
“Often men retire and come home and need something to do… their social life is at work.
“Men’s sheds are for the health and wellbeing of men – it’s as much a mental health thing as a physical health thing.”
Vice-Chair Chris Mobbs believes that generally, many women have networks and socialise face-to-face, while men talk shoulder-to-shoulder while working on a project.
“We have the ability to talk and chat – it’s a meeting place as much as anything,” he said.
“We build projects for the community… it’s nice to be able to do something for the community.”
Since its inception in 2017, the shed comes alive on Thursday mornings, with about 15 local men working on community projects, while others catch up over a coffee in the tea room.
When The Southern Argus visited, the men were turning beautiful red gum wood into a bench for Davenport Square, with the wood donated from a Flinders Ranges resident who had cut up a fallen-down tree.
Some other recent projects include a bench for a local ceramic group, and their recently completed wooden boat which they hope to take to Goolwa’s upcoming South Australian Wooden Boat Festival.
Located next to Macclesfield Oval, the group is starting to outgrow their shed and was recently awarded a $17,192 State Government grant to help extend its space.
For further information on joining the group, visit: (www.facebook.com/MaccyMensShed).
