Located in premises behind the old Shire Hall in Horne Street, Rushworth’s Men’s Shed is a hive of activity every Monday during school term as a dedicated band of enthusiasts meets to tinker with all things mechanical while enjoying a supportive, non-judgemental environment and valuable companionship.
Rushworth’s Men Shed is a member of the Australian Man’s Shed Association, an umbrella organisation whose aims include:
• representing Men’s Sheds to governments and potential funding sources
• publicizing and promoting Men’s Sheds
• helping with Shed administration
• promoting dialogue between Sheds, and
• acting as an impartial umpire if needed.
The Association describes a modern Men’s Sheds as an updated version of the backyard shed that has long been a part of our culture, and notes that twenty-first century Men’s Sheds are springing up all around Australia.
“If you looked inside one you might see a number of men restoring furniture, perhaps restoring bicycles for a local school, maybe making Mynah bird traps or fixing lawn mowers or making a kids cubby house for Camp Quality to raffle.
“You might also see a few young men working with the older men learning new skills and maybe also learning something about life from the men they work with.
“You will see tea-bags, coffee cups and a comfortable area where men can sit and talk.”
In essence, Men’s Sheds are communal spaces where men can interact with friends and colleagues while exercising practical skills to create or repair things – and have a great time doing so.
If they prefer, members can drop in, have a yarn and enjoy a cuppa – there’s no pressure to be seen “doing something”.
Sheds enable men to contribute to their community, and are a valuable forum for sharing information about men’s health issues.
Many men are normally reluctant to discuss their emotions, and can therefore suffer from isolation, loneliness and depression.
In a Shed environment, however, the life experiences of others can often serve as gentle guides to resolution of seemingly insurmountable problems, allowing the body to heal as one’s emotions are restored.
Under the supervision of skilled craftsman Harry Ashton, sessions at Rushworth’s Men’s Shed (in Horne Street) start around 9.30am each Monday during School Term, and finish mid-afternoon.
To encourage involvement by people from all socioeconomic groups, there is no charge for the Monday Shed activities.
Participants come from as far afield as Echuca, and everyone benefits from the exchange of ideas, sharing of skills, and old-fashioned friendships that develop.
New members are always welcome, so if you’d like to become part of a nation-wide movement aimed at helping men enjoy their leisure time, come along and join in.
Rushworth Community House online www.rushcomhouse.org
RCH News http://rchnews.wordpress.com
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www.facebook.com/rushworth.communityhouse
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Rushworth Community House 
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