Innovation keeps Men's Sheds connected

Unable to meet face-to-face for much of the year, the Men's Shed members have found ways to stay connected, according to Wimmera Men's Shed network coordinator Geoff Witmitz.

"They've worked really well. Even though they haven't been able to participate in the shed itself, they've created other ways to stay connected," he said.

"Even though they're in isolation, they remain connected. It's simple things, like going for a walk past the house of another and having a conversation as they went by.

Mr Witmitz said technology was a key factor in driving the innovation and helping men's shed members across the Wimmera remain connected with one another during Victoria's lockdown.

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"The growth of people and their knowledge around technology, whether it be a text message or Facebook posts, or that next level of downloading a link for Zoom onto their iPad and operating that so that people can stay visually connected," he said.

On the opposite side, younger members found a lack of technology odd, Mr Witmitz said.

"What floored me is that writing a letter or sending a card was really strange to some of the members from that 20 to 25 generation." he said.

Communication around the COVID-19 virus itself, information around vaccination was also

Horsham Men's Shed coordinator, Chas McDonald, said that the past eighteen months had been a challenge for the men's shed.

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"It's been a pain in the butt, with all the stopping and starting," he said.

As coordinator of the Horsham Men's Shed, Mr McDonald said it was part of his role to keep track of his members mental health.

"It's my job to give the members a call, find out how they're all coping. Just a check on all the members to see how they're going and their ability to cope. The ones who are single I look for a bit more of a conversation." he said.

"We're all encouraged to ring each other as well... but they're definitely wanting to get back to getting together (at the shed). It's the company and the camaraderie that's important.

"Most of (our members) seem to be able to keep themselves busy... everyone's got jobs of their own. But nobody can go anywhere."

Mr McDonald said when the lockdowns end, men's sheds will be more important than ever.

"I think once once we all get back to some sort of normalcy they'll be even more important."

The Men's Shed movement began in the 1980s and has since grown to encompass over 1000 sheds in Australia, with more scattered across the globe.

The sheds provide a space for craftwork and social interaction, and each Men's Shed is different.

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