Men’s Shed opens doors to community

By Simon Black

The Australian Men’s Shed movement is looking to create a centre for the residents of Pyrmont, Ultimo and Glebe.

The Pyrmont Ultimo Glebe (PUG) Men’s Shed will join hundreds of similar sheds across Australia.

Currently operating out of the Sydney Heritage Fleet building at Rozelle Bay while seeking its own premises, the group has set up a workshop on the upper deck of the 1912 Kanangra Ferry and is helping with the restoration of the windows, doors and wheel house of the ferry.

The site is also supervised by the Sydney Heritage Fleet who are providing training, tools and occupational health and safety management.

Chairman of the Steering Committee for PUG, Dr Ross Hindmarsh, said the Men’s Shed movement is gaining increasing recognition for the service it provided to recently retired men and the community.

“There is a lot of evidence that one of the greatest problems facing older men and recent retirees is loneliness,” he said.

“They go to work every day and then when they retire all that structure stops.”

“The Men’s Shed gives them somewhere they can go and work on projects as well as sharing valuable skills and experience with other men and the community at large.”

While the focus is primarily on men who have recently retired Dr Hindmarsh said sites such as these have something to offer the whole community.

“We have had some younger guys interested in PUG,” he said “which is fantastic, we are happy to have them as well.”

“We would love to be mentors to the community.”

For information about the Men’s Shed movement go to www.mensshed.org