“One of our members, well into his 80s, went from
having little knowledge of computers to creating
a DVD slide movie of his family holiday photos
accompanied by music,” Jeff proudly shared.
A class participant, John Paulling, said that he knew
very little about computers before taking part in the
class, but he’s now learnt how to use a spreadsheet
to help him analyse his bills.
“I’ve learned to build a comparison spreadsheet to
analyse our power bill which helped me negotiate
a better rate,” he said. “I’ve also learned how to use
Skype and now chat with old friends living right
around the world.”
The passion the men have in their shed and the
activities they undertake is evident. “The Shed is like
a sanctuary for these men,” President Bob Bull said.
“A lot of them are retired and didn’t know what to do
with themselves when they no longer had a job to go
to every day. The Shed gives them a purpose and the
opportunity to stay connected.
“The conversations that are held on our verandah,
they’re not the sort of conversations that men
generally have with their families. I’ve heard men
open up about illnesses and be able to talk frankly
about what they’re going through,” Bob continued.
“We aren’t just about learning how to use computers,
or making beautiful works with timber. Our Shed is
about providing social opportunities and helping
our members restore a sense of purpose. In doing
this, our members take an active interest in each
other’s health and wellbeing.”