Community worker hits the mark
Fri 04 November 2011
Marie Madden, Graduate Certificate in Communication
Excitement is brewing at the Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre as plans begin to build a community worker’s dream of a Men’s Shed into a reality.
The centre’s community development co-ordinator Mark Ellis announced recently that the Men’s Shed would be up and running by mid-2012 if fund applications with Jupiters and the Sunshine Coast Regional Council (SCRC) were approved this year.
The centre's new shed was the brainchild of Mr Ellis, who identified a critical need in the local area for a place where men could meet, be themselves, get inspired and connect in a variety of ways.
The community development co-ordinator harnessed the project single-handedly and put plans into action to get it off the ground.
Maroochy Neigbourhood Centre manager Michael Henning said that Mr Ellis was the epitome of a good community development co-ordinator, and was so successful in his role because he actually worked with the community.
“He has done the surveys, generated a bundle of interest and applied for funding himself,” Mr Henning said.
“He has planned the project meticulously and has made the time to meet and talk with all concerned individuals.
“He will make this project happen.”
Mr Ellis said that even though Men’s Sheds were “springing up everywhere”, too few were located on the Sunshine Coast, especially in the Maroochydore area.
“If you take a look around, you’ll see that the centre is surrounded by units that have no room for a shed,” Mr Ellis said.
“Eighty per cent of the occupants are retirees stuck inside with nothing to do.”
Figures released by the Bureau of Statistics in 2009 revealed that 259,400 out of 764,800 Queensland males aged 45 or over had retired from the workforce.
Mr Henning said that many retirees who had come to this region had downsized from houses and moved into surrounding units.
“We have noticed that they miss their little shed, a place to tinker around in ... where they have their own sense of space and place,” Mr Henning said.
The Men Shed association incorporates many different models, and Mr Ellis said that he was especially excited about the Men’s Shed because it was going to be inclusive rather than exclusive, as so many others are.
“I call it a Men’s Shed because that is the correct terminology but it will actually be our community shed,” Mr Ellis said.
A jubilant Mr Ellis said that the shed would not only be a place where men of all ages could come and play with their tools and have a “chin-wag”, it would also be there to help the community in many ways.
“It will interconnect nicely with other groups and programs within our immediate community,” Mr Ellis said.
“I want to get the older guys involved in a mentor program for younger guys who don’t work.
“There are so many guys out there that haven’t got a role model.
“It’s about getting these guys in and having the older guys with ethics and skills pass them down and help them find work.
“I will set up that arrangement through organisations and get the guys to come in at least once a week to learn how to make something and they can take it home.”
The community development co-ordinator said that an unusual characteristic of the Men’s Shed was the inclusion of women, purely in a learning capacity.
“If females want to learn how to restore a cupboard or change a tyre on their car, the Men’s Shed guys will teach them,” Mr Ellis said.
"Women are a big part of most men’s lives.
“The shed will not only bridge the gap between the old and the young.
“It will also bridge the gap between males and females because the males will actually be giving something back.”
The “out-of-the-box” community project co-ordinator said that the shed guys would also help pensioners in the community who could not afford to make improvement or do repairs in their homes.
“They will go to their houses and carry out minor repair work free of charge,” Mr Ellis said.
“Once the young guys from programs like Work for the dole learn some skills, they will go with them to assist and gain work experience.
“It will be a win-win situation for everyone involved.
“Pensioners have done their time and worked hard all their lives.
“Again ... it’s all about giving back to the community.”
Mr Ellis said he hoped the shed would help ease depression and loneliness issues for men.
“It will also be a platform for addressing men’s health issues such as diabetes, diet, exercise and alcoholism.”
Mr Ellis said that he had already received an overwhelming response from men wanting to be part of the Men’s Shed, which is to be built within the grounds of the Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre, Cotton Tree.
“...So much so that we have already formed a steering committee to give us direction,” Mr Ellis said.
“We have met with 27 other guys who are eagerly waiting to be part of the Men’s Shed.
“Now it’s just a waiting game until the funds come through.”
Mr Ellis estimated that the centre needed at least $A71,000 to get the shed up and running.
Mr Henning said that he felt blessed having Mr Ellis on board at the centre.
“The level of connection between the community and this centre has been the highest ever since he has been around,” Mr Henning said.
“That is reflected in the success other projects Mark has completed.
“The boutique community garden and the community kitchen developed by Mark have exceeded all my expectations.
“He’s worth his weight in gold.”
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Submitted Comments
We support this type of scheme and would like to form a similar group!
Arthur Davey (ex trade teacher)
The ideas expressed in this article are wholeheartedly supported by a group of men at Kawana Waters Uniting Church. We hope to open a similar shed in the near future.
Arthur Davey (ex plumber)