Ken Reither, Gisborne Men’s Shed VIC
The Gisborne Men’s Shed aims to connect members with each other and the wider community, guided by the belief that “doing good makes you feel good.” Our Young Shedmen program began in 2016 thanks to Shedder Gunther Behrendt, to support local teenage boys at risk of disengaging from school or family life.
With guidance from the Gisborne Police Proactive Unit, the program set out to boost self-esteem and reduce high-risk behaviour. The objectives are simple: introduce a work-like environment, promote teamwork, teach practical skills, and highlight the value of education.
The program runs at a separate time to regular Shed activities, with volunteers (aged 60–97) opting in. After partnering with a local secondary school, we began with two boys and now host up to five each year, mostly from Year 9. Not every participant completes the program, but most settle in quickly.
Projects have included joey feeders for wildlife carers, outdoor benches for a medical centre, and flowerpot planter boxes. Young Shedmen are also tasked with costing projects to build basic maths skills and encouraged to plan and design their builds with guidance from our “stealth mentors.”
A highlight last year was when our Young Shedmen mentored younger primary students—“Little Shedmen”—in a toy-building activity they helped plan and prepare. The event was a big success and will be repeated.
Each year ends with a presentation night where graduates receive a certificate and a donated toolkit from Bunnings, presented by local MPs and school staff—boosting the program’s visibility and impact.
Like many sheds, we recycle timber, metal and fixings but more importantly we recycle men and boys! Via our Young Shedmen program, we convert some teenage boys at risk of disengaging with school, into Young Shedmen with an improved rate of school attendance and participation. By giving our not-so-young Shedmen a purpose, we have a high success rate of reconditioning grumpy old retirees into happy, connected, community contributors.