Thanks to the Alexandrina Centre for Positive Ageing via Beth Moore, the ‘Celebrate The Shed’ event in Goolwa, South Australia on 30 October was very successful.
Men participated from Murray Malle Men’s Shed, Murray Bridge, Tintinara Community Men’s Shed, Tea Tree Gully Men’s Shed, Mount Prospect Men’s Shed, Nurioopta Men’s Shed, Playford Men’s Shed, Strathalbyn Wood Shed, Aldinga Community Centre, Encounter Centre and Victor Harbor Men’s Shed. We took a photo outside The Shed as below.
Maureen Kitto-Chaseling generously came all the way from Brisbane to return to ‘The Shed’ that she pioneered with the assistance of the late Ras Stokes in July 1993. A photo of The Shed with Ras’ Retreat alongside is below.
Maxine did a formal South Australian launch of Barry Golding’s Men’s Shed Movement book . The great story behind The Shed’s establishment is in ‘The Men’s Shed Movement’ book. Maxine’s stories were generous and uplifting for the 70 people who participated.
A plaque was unveiled on the end of the day by Councillor Tuckwell from there Alexandrina Council acknowledging The Shed as the first community Shed for men opened by that name in the world.
John Evoy, founding CEO of the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, and 2015 recipient of ‘The Ted Donnelly Award’ and David Helmers, CEO of Australian Men’s Shed Association drove across from Newcastle, New South Wales for the event.
Mark Thomson, from the Institute of Backyard Studies and author of several influential books about men and backyard sheds from 1995 also generously contributed to the program and supplied several photos including the one of John Evoy and Barry Golding, above.
Thanks finally to South Australian Men’s Shed Association via Bryce Routley for publicising and supporting the event.
Barry Golding 