Like many sheds, the Sunshine Valley Men’s Shed starts early and wraps up with a cuppa and an operational ‘ToolBox’ meeting by 11:30am. One day when Shed Secretary, Barry Cheesman, and president Blair Myers were coming back from a Regional men’s shed gathering, Barry had the idea of holding more of a social event where shedders would stay a bit longer and chat.
“Some of our members – and their mates – are also less mobile and might not be able to get involve in all the projects,” Barry said. “So, we thought, why not put on something more social – something that gets people staying a little longer and connecting a bit more?”
That simple idea sparked the first Bring-a-Mate BBQ – an easygoing social lunch aimed at encouraging more relaxed participation and a chance to reconnect with past members and welcome new faces, with no expectation or pressure of the mates becoming members.
The first BBQ saw a 25% boost in attendance and, more importantly, members hung around longer, catching up and enjoying the company.
“It was fantastic to see some of the blokes we hadn’t seen in a while. It reminded us that the social side of the Shed is just as important as the activities we run,” Barry said.
With plans to make the Bring-a-Mate BBQ a regular fixture, the Sunshine Valley Men’s Shed continues to prove that whether it’s building things or building friendships, there’s more than one way to build something meaningful.
