AS part of Men’s Shed Week (2 – 9 September), Coffs Harbour Men’s Shed will celebrate three decades of the organisation with a birthday bash open to the public.

This year’s Men’s Shed Week theme is ‘30 years of Sheds’, and the local Shed is marking the milestone with a monster garage sale and open day on Saturday 2 September, followed by a week of open days from 4 – 9 September.

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“The Coffs Harbour Men’s Shed was established in 2010 and is a key community asset for Coffs Harbour,” Shed President Chris Hansen told News Of The Area.

“The members of Coffs Harbour Men’s Shed find a place to belong at the shed, as well as participate in various community-building activities such as The Shedmen band performances at aged care centres and building planter boxes for Council floral displays in the CBD,” said Chris.

Recognised as one answer to national health issues emanating from social isolation, local Sheds have evolved into community hubs and contribute to fostering community spirit from the city suburbs to regional and rural towns.

Since the first community shed for men opened its doors in 1993, in Goolwa SA, the Men’s Shed community has grown to encompass more than 2,500 Sheds in twelve countries.

Assistant Treasurer and Vice President at Coffs Harbour Men’s Shed, Ken Ryan told News Of The Area, “If you’ve ever thought of visiting the Coffs Harbour Community Men’s Shed, then Saturday, 2 September is your opportunity to come and see what we do.

“In fact, on any day of the following week, 4 – 8 September, the shed will be open to the public.”

The monster sale, like the monthly garage sales, involves the on-selling of donated goods and the usual offering of Men’s Shed-produced wares.

Most of the saleable articles come from donations to the Shed from deceased estates or from people downsizing to retirement accommodation.

“There is usually an assortment of wares from tools to household goods on offer, all checked and certified as good to go by our resident electricians and engineers.

“There will be entertainment on offer by our dedicated band members, The Shedmen.”

A free sausage sizzle will be available at the garage sale.

“We will also be raffling two lovely cutting boards made in the shed,” said Ken.

If you will be entering the workshop area of the shed away from the garage sale, covered footwear must be worn.

For many Australian men the local Men’s Shed offers somewhere to go, something to do and mates that make it all worthwhile.

Known by many as a place where older blokes can go to tinker and have a cuppa, to the wider Australian public there is still some mystery around what goes on at the local shed.

The detailed picture varies from shed to shed, depending on the members within its walls.

What doesn’t vary is the value Men’s Sheds add to local communities: connecting men, improving health and wellbeing outcomes, and positively contributing to almost 1,300 vibrant and thriving communities around Australia.

Find Coffs Harbour Men’s Shed at www.mensshedcoffs.com.au or on Facebook.

By Andrea FERRARI