Tucked between the ocean and bay beaches on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, the Point Nepean Men’s Shed has become a hub of community connection and creativity. While the Shed is well known locally for its woodworking and school projects, members have recently taken on something quite unexpected — hosting a dementia café.
The café idea grew out of a fundraiser held at the Shed. After raising money for the Umbrella Dementia Café team, members were approached to provide a venue. The Shed’s old helicopter hangar, with sweeping views over the bay, turned out to be the perfect spot. Now, every fortnight, families living with dementia gather for two hours of games, conversation, and support. For carers, it’s a chance to swap stories and find respite, while those living with dementia can enjoy a safe, welcoming space.
“It’s been an eye-opener,” says Terry, a long-time member. “Over the two hours, it was wonderful seeing the interaction between facilitators, volunteers, care givers and the members with dementia”.
The dementia café is just one of many ways the Shed is reaching beyond its doors. Members have also partnered with local schools to build shelters for endangered hooded plovers, run bike maintenance programs for students, and create “buddy benches” that encourage kids to reach out to one another when they’re feeling left out. They’ve even introduced wicking boxes — simple garden beds that help schools teach sustainability in a hands-on way.
From helping a neighbour clear a fallen tree to providing schoolchildren with a new way to learn, the Point Nepean Shed continues to show how diverse, practical, and caring Men’s Sheds can be.
As Terry puts it, “For us, it’s a chance to be together — the banter, the laughs, and the satisfaction of helping. With the café and everything else, we never quite know what’s next — and that’s the beauty of it.