New men's shed in Moonee Ponds Melbourne

Hi all.

There is a new men's shed in Moonee Ponds in Melbourne.

It's just started and they are getting all new machinery for woodworking and have just started setting it up. At the moment they are making bird nesting boxes and possum boxes, for the Moonee Valley Council.

If you have your own project like making boxes with dovetail corners, or anything for that matter eg... maybe a bed, or a cabinet, a coffee table, children's toys etc, they have a Saturday session where you can work on your own projects to your hearts content.

They are also running sessions in metal working for beginners, including repairing and reconditioning abandoned bicycles and giving them to charities. But if you have metalwork experience they will love to meet you too.

They also have programs for making all sorts of craft items which will be for sale.

More details here including an enrolment form...

Moonee Valley Men's Shed | Moonee Valley City Council

Now is the time to join if you are interested, they are looking for new members.

David

Welcome to forum :2tsup::2tsup:from the mens shed in deloraine tasmania
regards john

"Welcome to men's sheds."

Join your State body and also the National body for men's sheds.

TasmanMensShed.

Paul.

A couple of weeks ago I went to the Moonee Valley mens shed to check it out. It,s a joke, a big efing joke. There is nothing there - no machinery, no workspace ( workspace is about the size of a two car garage with about a third of that taken up with a large metal work bench used for welding etc). all they have is a drop saw, two drill presses, a bench grinder and some old hand tools on the wall and thats it. There is also an eating room where you can make a cup of coffee and a room with a couple of computers.I was told they have been running for more than 3 months now without any equipment.

The guys (about 8-10 of them) were building and painting bird boxes and that is about all that they seem to do down there. There were also a pile of old bikes out the back. The place is open for only 2 hours on tuesday, thursday and saturday and thats it! Doesn,t seem anywhere long enough to me. I suppose for the blokes who go there they are getting something out of it but I don,t think it,s much. What a waste of time. Maybe it will get better. Moonee Valley council needs to spend some money to make it viable like getting some equipment except I do not know where they are going to put it.

It would be interesting to hear from someone who goes there a lot to see what they think.

Alex

Hi Alex.

It takes time to get a shed up and running.
We are still in a very small shed, which is loaned to us.
We are still trying to get tools etc for our shed.

Sometimes we struggle to get projects off the ground.

Why not get in and help the chaps, if you can see a need.

Paul.
Coordinator.
TasmanMenShed.

Hi to Alex,
Hey Alex, don't take this the wrong way, but those 10 odd Chaps, most likely don't know any better.
Seems to me if you use you Username, & go & give them a hand. You might even be able to get a Key for The Shed, & stay a bit longer on those days.
You may have some New Ideas as to what to make, use the Computer for other ideas.

Here in Geelong, we do Sausage Sizzles at Bunnings, & the Chaps make Chopping Boards, Whirly Gigs, Do Specialty Bits for some Community Jobs, & they are all paying works.

Out of all that when we eventually get Our Shed, that Money will go to getting some Equipment.
Please, don't go on the defensive, Go & Give Them a Hand, as I'm sure they will make you very Welcome.

It's often the case that when these sheds get established it is by the sheer hard input by the folk who want it.
People not only volunteer their time but also their own personal tools etc to make these sheds work.

Its not about whats in the shed but how you can personally contribute to make the shed work if there are negatives that can be seen,turn them around with some positive thought.

Getting equipment and gear is not easy and sourcing funds for these takes time programmes put in place such as working bees or producing items to sell in the community go a long way to addressing some of those needs.

What some tend to forget that a mens shed is not soley about going there to use the equipment there, although it is a major drawcard.It is also about having a place to meet to address issues that crop up from such as mens health and welfare just to mention one.

I dont see any mens shed as a joke if it is fulfilling a function when men of like mind can get together to accomplish whatever they set their minds to.

Cheers:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by smartalex76

A couple of weeks ago I went to the Moonee Valley mens shed to check it out. It,s a joke, a big efing joke. There is nothing there - no machinery, no workspace ( workspace is about the size of a two car garage with about a third of that taken up with a large metal work bench used for welding etc). all they have is a drop saw, two drill presses, a bench grinder and some old hand tools on the wall and thats it. There is also an eating room where you can make a cup of coffee and a room with a couple of computers.I was told they have been running for more than 3 months now without any equipment.

The guys (about 8-10 of them) were building and painting bird boxes and that is about all that they seem to do down there. There were also a pile of old bikes out the back. The place is open for only 2 hours on tuesday, thursday and saturday and thats it! Doesn,t seem anywhere long enough to me. I suppose for the blokes who go there they are getting something out of it but I don,t think it,s much. What a waste of time. Maybe it will get better. Moonee Valley council needs to spend some money to make it viable like getting some equipment except I do not know where they are going to put it.

It would be interesting to hear from someone who goes there a lot to see what they think.

Alex

---

OK Alex. Get in and do something about it.

Mens sheds are run by volunteers and there is never enough money from donations, councils etc. to get the things the shed needs, especially in the startup phase.

There is much, much more to a Shed than the size or the amount of equipment. What the shed is about is the blokes, and sometimes the girls that go along every week and join in. It does not matter how many things that they make or what they make them with.

It is the participation that matters. Everything else will follow.

At our Shed (The Hills) we have blokes that can't operate machinery - stroke victims or other illness or injuries that barely allow them to walk. They really don't care how many power tools we have available. They come along every week to join in, to do what they can, to have a social life, to get out of their house and make an effort and perhaps a difference.

We have blokes that come in every week and have a cup of tea and a chat for a couple of hours - possibly a high point in their week. We have an over 90 year old bloke with vast experience in industry who comes along to help out, to offer ideas and teaching to others, he is happy to be able to use his experience again. He can't pick up a hammer & chisel but he sure can advise on how to use them.

Maybe you are lucky. Maybe you have never been alone or lonely, sick, depressed or just plain old. I hope you never are, well I actually hope you do get old - the alternative sucks.

If you have the time, get in and help out. Don't concern yourself with how much the Shed doesn't have, have a look at the things it is doing for the blokes that are involved and maybe get something out of it for yourself.

The Shed is not about making things. It is about the Health and well being of older men.

Rant over for now..

I'm a volunteer at the Manningham Men's shed. This one caters specifically for men and women who have special needs, not for drop ins to use the facilities.

We have most woodwork machinery and, yes, before you can use it you have to be approved by the (paid) coordinator. So some of us that are allowed do the machining for the clients that are not able to use it.

For the guys, client, that come the getting out and enjoy fellowship is great and making something, albeit with help, is a bonus.

Also when I was going through my cancer treatment the ability to talk it over with others, including fellow patients the coordinator introduced me to, was a god send and helped me through this period.

So before you criticise and ask what can it do for you, think of what YOU can do for them. The result may surprise you.

Peter.

HI yes i agree with what they say, Our community shed in Deloraine is a wonderfull place to meet and make things and or just sit and have a cup of coffee and a listen to other people.

regsrds john.

Hi all

I feel a little strange posting on here but was googling the Moonee Valley Men's Shed when this site popped up.

I do volunteer work for a small kinder in Ascot Vale and have been trying to get in touch with someone about the Moonee Valley Mens Shed, without success. Our kinder likes to establish links with local community groups and we are seeking some local resident/s who might be interested being involved with our kinder and maybe taking on some small woodwork tasks such as repairing toys and equipment. We like the kids to see that we value our stuff (rather than throwing it out) and that people can work together and help each other.

We would be very happy to support the Men's Shed in any way possible as it is such a great initiative (maybe asking for donations, newsletter advertising etc). We have previously worked with one a bit further away, through a family connection but would like to link up with somewhere a bit more local.

If anyone has any suggestions or can assist it would be most appreciated.

Many thanks:)
Tarnee

Tarnee

The first post in this thread gives this link for information an the Moonee Valley shed.

Moonee Valley Men's Shed | Moonee Valley City Council

perhaps a phone call to the local council will put you on track.

If you have a look at the video in the above link there is a phone number 9243 8888.

also

here is a shed locator from the sheds association

Australian Mens Sheds Association: Men's Shed - Shed Locator


It does not mention Moonee Ponds , but it may be of some help.

Thanks Avery.

I have actually rung 4 times in the last 5-6 weeks and left voice mail (and email messages) but have received no reply from the Council (which is the number provided in the thread). The main listing for Men's Sheds does not have a contact number for the MV shed yet and the only number I can find listed anywhere is the Council switchboard number.

Hence, I was hoping maybe someone involved might read my post and be able to help. My next step will be to visit the shed when it is open I guess!

Thanks anyway.

If you click on the user name for the original post, 2zenmonks. You will see, you can email him directly from this site.

I hope that helps.

Paul.
TasmanMensShed.