Shed workers use new skills to help others

Sydney
14 April 2002

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Shed workers use new skills to help others

Relaxing after a job well done: Mens’ Shed woodworkers Frank Raisbeck and Des Howard, project co-ordinator Gary Grienke, woodworker Jack O’Reagan and outreach manager Bob Nelson

A green two-planter box and garden seat with three matching outdoor tables have been presented to the Lewisham Nursing Home to mark Seniors’ Week.

The new furniture, which will occupy a vacant courtyard area at the home, is the work of volunteers and helpers at the Ashfield Men’s Shed, a joint venture between Ashfield Council and the Mary MacKillop Outreach Centre, Lewisham.

It allows local boarding house residents with a mental illness or disability to meet and socialise with volunteers while they tackle carpentry jobs together in the centre’s workshop.

The men meet weekly to learn woodwork and make furniture that they donate to local community organisations.

“The guys love the community projects,” says Gary Grienke, the Mens’ Shed project co-ordinator.

“They’re much happier knocking together beds for the needy or repairing furniture for local community organisations than working on their own projects, although there is time for that, too.”

The manager of Mary MacKillop Outreach, Bob Nelson, says the main aim of the successful program is to help the boarding house residents assimilate into mainstream community groups, while building their confidence and selfesteem.

Members of the Mens’ Shed volunteer team, like Ken Whitton and Keith Lawrence, enjoyed seeing their efforts go to a good cause at the presentation of the furniture to Wendy Jeske, manager of the nursing home.

Keith, who is retired, joked that the program helps his wife as well – by taking him out of the house for a few hours every Thursday.