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  1. #31
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
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    27,756

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by tonycrh View Post
    HI Guys,
    Well my opening line was going to be "get them while they are young" however after reading Pearo's comment I think its a case of get them before its too late.
    It's never too late, we have members in their 70's (including a couple of engineers) that have never lifted a screwdriver before.

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  3. #32
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Sydney Upper North Shore
    Posts
    4,464

    Default Men's shed Sydney - Northern Suburbs

    Anyone here a member of a Men's shed in Sydney Northen Suburbs?

    Cheers

  4. #33
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    96

    Default

    Hi Folks,


    Given the topic, I must say, it’s rather interesting the level of interest from ‘older folks’ that want us young men to participate in a mens shed, or have our own. I’m 27, and have tried a mens shed. Unfortunately it involved an introductory racist lunchtime session with other members hating Indigenous people (I’m Indigenous - I know where I’m not welcomed). So I left quietly after lunch. Fortunately I was able to find a highly regarded woodwork teacher. It’s costly, but it’s worth it. But being a Social Worker in an NGO child protection org, theres only so long I can sustain the cost. My learnings from the Mens shed experience are:


    Connectedness. The emphasise on membership for young men is to build connectedness within a group, not merely recruit. Signing the membership form is the easy part. A focus needs to be on building the ‘shed culture’. Akin to BobLs comment about the filthy jokes. Every mens shed needs an active strategy to bring younger men into the ‘group’. This is very true of woodworking, which is predominately based on independent project work. I’ve always thought a better tact would be to have a designated night or session devoted to building a large-scale group piece - a timber boat, restoring a vintage machine etc. But its has to be based on collective interest…


    Interest. Now a mens shed can’t be all things to all people. However, different age demographics creates different interests. Perhaps an easy rhetorical question for you folks is - how many young members (below 30yrs) at mens shed participate in the standard ‘making wood toys’ session? Not many, if any I’d assume. Theres a big move towards craftsmanship with younger woodworkers, particularly learning hand skills. These interests need to be imbedded. Indeed that’s a perfect opportunity to have the old hands lend some help and advice.


    Common likeness. In my experience, what brings people together is common likeness, not difference. Having a BBQ fundraiser and membership drive at your local Bunnings with old men as the face of the recruitment drive aren’t going to attract young men, women or anyone outside that demographic. It’s basic sociology folks, that’s why you have suburbs in the larger cities devoted to common creeds, race, class (Sunnybank in Brisbane with its high rate of asian residents, Inner city Melbourne with its young professionals etc etc.). People stick to what they know and trust - the comfort factor. Overall, Mapleman hit the nail on the head with his comments about having a young mens shed, operated and run by young men.


    Regards,
    Raymond J.B

  5. #34
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,756

    Default

    Good summary Raymond.

    The issue of a collective interest is important to help maintain purpose and bond the group, but it may be difficult to establish and maintain.
    Some sheds have a more specific focus that immediately defines what they do like computers, toys or bicycles or . . . . .

    The only real common interest I see tying most of our our shed membership together is the desire to have a decent working cubby, err . . . shed, but this is only going to sustain us for so long.
    Currently we have more than half the membership working on restoring equipment, and improvements to the shed.
    It will be interesting to see what happens to our shed membership once the shed reorganization settles and there's not much more cubby building to be done.
    I expect some changes to the membership to occur.

  6. #35
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Albury Well Just Outside
    Posts
    13,315

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by woodlogic View Post
    ...... have tried a mens shed. Unfortunately it involved an introductory racist lunchtime session with other members hating Indigenous people...
    Very disappointing to hear that.

    I hope that this does not deter you from any future participation of a men's shed. At least being on this forum(part of the internet) there is just a signon name. Get to know the person before they see the human.

  7. #36
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Sutherland Shire, Sydney
    Age
    71
    Posts
    1,301

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    Here ya go
    Thanks Bob.
    Your Mens Shed looks pretty well set up now. I hope it progresses and prospers for the good of the local community.

    Alan...

  8. #37
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Cherrybrook,NSW
    Posts
    344

    Default

    Lappa,I am part of the Hornsby Mens shed if you are close to them. I mainly go on theweekend due to school.All the guys in the shed are all really friendlyand willing to help and offer advice when needed. Cheers WC


  9. #38
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Sydney Upper North Shore
    Posts
    4,464

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Wood Collector View Post
    Lappa,I am part of the Hornsby Mens shed if you are close to them. I mainly go on theweekend due to school.All the guys in the shed are all really friendlyand willing to help and offer advice when needed. Cheers WC
    Thanks. I live very close to Hornsby. Is it the one in Sefton Road? Are they open Saturday and Sunday? I may drop in next Saturday.

    Cheers

  10. #39
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    288

    Default

    Well I've been checking around looking for either men's shed, or other woodworking club as a way to try to learn woodturning... the most common issue is that all those clubs are actually only open during standard work hours.. which is very discouraging for full time working people..
    The only sort of club I could find was Pop's shed which actually runs woodturning classes on saturdays.. And it seems quite popular as upon my query, they were booked out at least three or four weeks in advance...
    I've looked on several clubs in the area and all of them are open 9 - 12 and then 13-16... so for people like me who work pretty much 8-16 (or lets say 9-17) there is simply no way I can attend any of the classes...
    Unless I am looking at wrong places but to me it seems that all of those clubs are aimed for retired guys or people who i guess work something like second shift or similar...

  11. #40
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    BELL POST HILL, 3215
    Age
    87
    Posts
    2,332

    Default Wood Club.

    Hi Prle77,
    The Koonung Woodies meet on Sat. in the Blackburn area. Not sure if it is every Sat. or not..
    I'm sure there are others also. Not sure where you are in Melb.
    I will PM you a Ph. No.
    Regards,
    issatree.
    Have Lathe, Wood Travel.

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