Sign In / Register
The Men’s Shed is expected to look like this – the Coloursteel exterior will be designed to blend with its environment in Silverdale War Memorial Park.
Anticipation is growing among local men who want to see a Men’s Shed established in Silverdale, as plans for the shed take shape.Men’s Sheds are not-for-profit community workshops where, for a small fee, members can drop in for a chat and to work on individual or community tasks. Resources are provided, including tools and equipment for woodwork, engineering, model making and electronics.
The Hibiscus Men’s Shed Trust has local board approval for a site in Silverdale War Memorial Park, adjacent to the former bowling club.
Now on the drawing board is a design called the Fair Dinkum shed, from the organisation’s preferred supplier, The Shed Company of Waitoki.
The shed, which will be built on a concrete slab, is a steel framed structure of around 450sqm with a large meeting/lunchroom on the northern side.
Hibiscus Men’s Shed Trust chair, Stuart Johnston, said this room is a point of difference from many other Men’s Sheds but is very important.
“It’s a place to have a cup of tea in a relaxed, convivial environment,” Stuart says. “Those talks with other ‘sheddies’ are where the mental health benefits of Men’s Sheds spring from.”
He says the organization is ready to lodge its building consent application.
Stuart estimates the building could be up in around 18 months, but says that many local men are not prepared to wait.
Currently the Trust has 144 people on its data base and 29 paid up members. In addition, there are large numbers attending coffee club meetings, which began recently. The coffee meetings are held at the Hibiscus Coast Community RSA in Vipond Road, on the first Wednesday of every month at 11am. Stuart says the meetings have been so successful that the Trust is considering a temporary shed venue so that the various projects that are already coming in can be worked on together.
“We have had enquiries and the potential manpower is there, so we are endeavouring to find a temporary solution,” Stuart says.
The Trust also needs volunteer with spreadsheet skills, and a vice chair to be Stuart’s right hand man. Info: contact Stuart, email hibiscusshed@outlook.com or phone 0274 923 357.
