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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Sydney
    Age
    81
    Posts
    149

    Default Strathfield Mens Shed

    Hi all,

    Firstly, many thanks to Neil for giving us the opportunity for discussion in this special Mens Shed Forum.

    I will do a little plagiarism from a thread by Terry McCowan to describe our new Strathfield Mens Shed.
    --------------------------------------
    "Dear All,

    At the risk of wearing out my welcome with another story about the Strathfield Menshed.

    I can report as follows

    We have now had 4 Wednesday meetings with an everage of about 10 members attending and have now started Saturdays though with less numbers at this time (have about 20 members in total)

    From the kindness of benefactors and members we have a reasonable supply of both power and hand tools though would love to obtain or borrow a jointer thicknesser (excuse my terminology I am not a woodworker).

    Members projects at this stage are mainly preparing the shed, have built 3 good quality wooden benches and have acquired one steel one. We will be building some more next week and then should be able to handle abourt 20 members at any time. We are starting some personal and community projects in the next two weeks, I am hoping to build a 7ft dinghy.and some garden beds for the local primary school which is being funded by Strathfield Council.

    Our pressing need is storage, does anyone have access to about 50 lineal meters of kitchen cupboard bases (perhaps a company doing a strip out of a lab or kitchen), tops not necessarily as will use plywood for this and condition irrelevant as we have 2 long walls of about 25-30m. under windows as a storage area for tools and small itemsIf you can't supply them on one lot we are happy to collect them on an individual basis.

    Also is there any builders out there who have some surplus construction plywood , perhaps from a demolished hoarding that we can use as our bench tops

    I will try and post some photos of the shed ASAP.

    If you want to join simply come on Wednesday or ring me on 0449 106 002 or contact me through this forum. Our membership fee is $50 per annum plus a gold coin each time to pay for milk tea and biscuits "

    ----------------------------------
    We have had further days and are now regularly meeting on Saturdays.

    Finally I would encourge all interested to subscribe to this Forum, as they say "USE IT OR LOSE IT!!!"

    Finally some photos as to where we are now. Hopefully, in the future we will have our own Web site.

    Many thanks.
    Cheers all !!

    Bruce

    (If you don't try...........you'll never know!)

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Strathfield
    Posts
    22

    Default Saturday Opening

    Bruce,

    Thanks for posting the photos.

    There have been some further developments, we are now opening on Saturdays from 10 am to about 4 pm

    This is specially for those who cannot come on Wednesday due to work ( or golf) commitments.

    Even if you don't want to join us yet this is a real opportunity to come and check us out and an excuse to clean out your shed, your trash might be our treasure

    Regards

    Terry McCowan

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Pambula
    Age
    58
    Posts
    12,779

    Default

    Looks like a fantastic facility. Hope it all goes well.

    You do realise that your Saturday meeting coincides with the weekend woodies? I hope you've got a radio

    I think I heard you on the show last Saturday Terry. Those blokes are a bit of a worry, they thought it was a ball pain hammer!
    "I don't practice what I preach because I'm not the kind of person I'm preaching to."

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Wodonga
    Age
    59
    Posts
    707

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by silentC View Post
    Those blokes are a bit of a worry, they thought it was a ball pain hammer!
    Slip while using it and it could be.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Pambula
    Age
    58
    Posts
    12,779

    Default

    Someone rang in and suggested that. Wasn't you was it?
    "I don't practice what I preach because I'm not the kind of person I'm preaching to."

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Wodonga
    Age
    59
    Posts
    707

    Default

    Don't think I have your number!

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Strathfield
    Posts
    22

    Default Strathfield Menshed Timber Required

    We have discovered that the floor of our building will need some repairs. While the floor, plywood, is OK , we will need some hardwood joists and bearers. Can anyone assist with cheap, ie free timber (possibly could stretch to a case of Beer).

    We can collect in Sydney metro area.

    Someone might know of a house being demolished and they could perhaps ask the demolisher to put them aside for us.

    Thanks

    Terry McCowan

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Strathfield
    Posts
    22

    Default Another Request

    Dear Members

    nFurther to my request for used timber for flooring does anyone out there know whre we couild source old kitchen cupboards (probably from a kitchen installer but I don't know any. We have about 50 lineal meteres of wall space under windows and the proposal is to install old cupboards for storage and use some commercial ply as the bench tops.

    Regards
    Terry McCowan

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    North Of The Boarder
    Age
    68
    Posts
    16,794

    Default

    Terry I have recently found out that there are two Mens Shed types one run like a Business which gives little but asks much where government funding is still sort but there is remunition for exec of each individual Men Shed of approx $60k.

    and the other by Uniting Church the original set up

    Which are you connected with

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Strathfield
    Posts
    22

    Default Re type of Menshed

    Dear wheelinround.


    Unfortunately there seems to be more factions and subgroups of mensheds than there are in the Labor Party. To my knowledge there are groups associated with the Uniting Church, St Vincents de Paul as well as Mensheds Australia and there are probably other groups I am not aware of as well as many independent sheds.


    The status of the Strathfield shed is that we are in the process of incorporation under the Associations Incorporation Act which is designed to provide a legal structure for non profit groups. We have have received some advice and support from Mensheds Australia but no decision has been made to affiliate with them and that decision will not be made until after incorporation. In any event the benefits that they provide seem to outweigh the minimal cost of affiliation but that will be a decision for the members. At this stage they have neither asked for or received any money and I cannot see how we would be obliged to pay for anything other than services provided (they have provided cheap liability insurance for us so far)


    The reason that that we did not affiliate with the Uniting Church or St Vincents de Paul was that firstly they did not ask us to and in any event it was a deliberate decision of the founding members that the shed was to be non-denominational and apolitical. I have visited the Lane Cove shed operated by the Uniting Church which seems to be part of a retirement village and also the Marrickville shed operated by the St Vincents de Paul. While both worthy organisatiions neither shed had a similar demographic profile to the members we are obtaining, aged between 30-70 both working and retired as we are now open on Wednesday and Saturday ( this is a more inclusive group than both the above sheds). The hours will increase as membership grows.


    There is also a shed opening soon in Auburn specifically for Vietnam Veterans, again a worthy group but does not fit in with our aims of being an inclusive locally controlled group.


    The structure we have adopted will mean that all control is locally based by the members and I understand that should we have affiliated with either religious group we would be controlled by an outside body and our role would have been advisory at best.


    The shed is located in premises owned by Strathfield Council who have been most supportive and they certainly would not have been comfortable with it being run by non members outside the council area.


    For the record no member is receiving a salary or payment of any kind, let alone $60K, and the rules when incorporated will prevent any member of the executive having a paid position. Our only source of funds so far has been membership levies of $50 per member and we will be making an application for a grant from the Department of Veteran Affairs. Once the shed is fully operational we will be approaching local business's for support


    Hope this answers your question but please do not hestiate to contact me should you wish.


    If you are local please pay a us a visit, 10-3 Wednesday and Saturday


    Regards
    Terry McCowan

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    North Of The Boarder
    Age
    68
    Posts
    16,794

    Default

    It does Thanks Terry

    My reason for asking is that a Woodies group I belong to has just been through looking at forming a Mens Shed and has had interviews with both associations.

    Its a shame to gain the funding which they can not get as a Woodies group they have to go this route.

    Ray

  13. #12
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Melton
    Posts
    7

    Default Peak body for community Men's Sheds

    The question about the different peak bodies representing Men's Shed in Australia is a very important one. The Australian Men's Shed Association (AMSA) has this on their website: There is no relationship between the community based Australian Men's Sheds Association AMSA, which represents independent community Men's Sheds, and the company Mensheds Australia Ltd.

    Communities wanting information about setting up a Shed can get lots of information from the AMSA and their member Sheds for free. There's a fantastic group of Sheds who are members of AMSA (and their State affiliate) and we're all in regular contact to support and guide each other through our Shed journeys and challenges, again at no cost.

    With a member based structure, the Boards of AMSA and the State Assn's are elected by their members, whilst my understanding is that Sheds linked to the company Mensheds Aus don't have a say in electing people to positions (not sure they even have a Board – perhaps just paid staff?).

    If you want support for your existing Shed or to set up a new one and you want that support for free, then consider linking with AMSA. (The Victorian Men’s Shed Ass’n has around 80 members who meet on a quarterly basis in a different region of Vic and it’s a great resource to get lots of help and guidance). If you want to pay for help and you’ve got the $$, then link with the company Menshed Aus.

    The AMSA website is: www.mensshed.org

    AMSA is running the 3rd National Men's Shed Conference in Tassie in August and they're expecting around 400 sheddies to attend. It should be a great event and opportunity to hear from other community based Sheds, details are on the AMSA website.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Strathfield
    Posts
    22

    Default Mensheds head bodies

    Dear DC Wheels,


    Thanks for your reply. It only goes to show that unfortunately that there are too many bodies purporting to represent Mensheds in Australia. To be quite honest I had not even heard of your group until your reply


    I don't wish to become involved in internicine policitics between the various groups as presumably ther are even more out there I can only say that my dealings with Mensheds Autralia up to date have been fair and honest.


    Is there any chance of the various groups getting together or are there too many personality conflicts between the groups.


    When the time comes we shall consider who we shall affiliate with.


    Terry McCowan

  15. #14
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Melton
    Posts
    7

    Default

    Terry,

    you’ve raised an issue that is growing and one which is increasingly important to clarify as more and more Sheds develop across the country. Firstly, to clarify any perceived ‘conflicts of interest’, I am not on either committee of the AMSA or VMSA, nor do I speak for them or anyone else. I do have a strong interest in establishing a Shed in my community and it is affiliated with the VMSA/AMSA. Secondly, I certainly wasn’t suggesting (nor do I believe) anything unfair or dishonest about anyone’s efforts or work, I was simply trying to clarify (as I understand it) the difference between the two groups and I’m surprised and disappointed that my comments could be interpreted that way.

    I agree that each Shed need to determine their affiliation (or non) based on their own circumstances, needs, values etc and if those link more closely with the AMSA’s over the Menshed company, or vice versa then so be it.

    It is important that communities with Sheds or planning to establish one know the difference between these groups and I support the AMSA’s efforts to make a clear distinction between it and the company Menshed Aus. This has to happen amongst Men’s Sheds, all levels of Government and anyone else with an interest in these Sheds.

    It’s not surprising that many haven’t heard of AMSA, it has been and continues to be run on the smell of an oily rag, with (I think) just one paid staff member on a part time basis, the rest are volunteers. AMSA simply doesn’t have access to the income of Mensheds Aus and cannot hope to match its professional marketing resources and profile.

    Whilst it may seem there are many groups promoting themselves as ‘peak’ national bodies, there are only two, the AMSA and the company Mensheds Aus. Anyone who’s had contact with both, can make up their own minds about the distinct focuses, financial costs and benefits to work or affiliate with each.

    As to the roles of the Uniting Church and St Vincent de Paul’s (and any other church/religious groups), both have been and continue to be enthusiastic supporters of Men’s Sheds in their communities though I don’t think either has, or does put itself forward as a peak or representative body for Sheds nationally. If you read the AMSA newsletters on their website, you’ll see how and why the establishment of AMSA (and the State Assn’s) has progressed.

    Most importantly is that we have and support as many Men’s Sheds as possible to get up and running and to continue to run. I couldn’t agree with you more Terry, there are too many men’s health and well being issues to address and too much untapped potential amongst our blokes out there to let anything stand in our way, least of all any ‘political’ affiliations or self interest.

    Thanks mate and best of luck to you and the other Strathfield Sheddies.

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Strathfield
    Posts
    22

    Default Mensheds Peak Bodies

    Dear DC

    I am sorry if I offended you it was certainly unintentional. What I was alluding to is that it is a shame that there are two peak bodies for what we all agree is a very worthwhile cause.


    My major difficulty with the religious groups was that they did not appear to allow any local control and that all decisions were centrally made, this was not acceptable to our members.


    As both bodies seem to be reasonably well established it would seem unlikely that there is any possibility of an amalgamation no matter how desirable that would seem. The next best thing would be that the parties agree at least not to disparage each other and accept that although their methods might be different they both share a common aim.


    While I know virtually nothing of the AMSA and cannot comment on their organisation. I have some contact wth MA and have found that they have been professional in their support. I know little about their internal organisation but understand that they have only one salaried part time employee but this is a matter that should be adressed by MA on this forum.


    I hope that what appears to be acrimony beteen the groups can be at least minimised as it is important that such an important social network can present a common front to governments of all levels


    I am however disappointed that the AMSA website on its home page where it refers to MA as a company seems to imply that it is for profit organisation which clearly it is not. A company structure is commonly used for many non-profit groups


    Terry McCowan

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