Wagga’s Award-Winning Model of Community and Sustainability
Since its establishment in 2008, Wagga Wagga Men’s Shed (NSW) has evolved into a model of sustainability and community service, earning them the AMSA National Men’s Shed Award for Sustainability. Through a combination of recycling, repurposing, fundraising, and compassion, the shed has not only built a strong internal culture but also made a significant impact on the wider Wagga Wagga community.
Under the guidance of secretary David Croft, who has held the role since 2014, the shed has developed innovative systems to turn what others see as rubbish into revenue, tools, furniture, and even works of art.
“Our shed’s philosophy is, if something has got a second life, we’ll find it!”
A Fully Functioning Recycling Hub
Recycling is at the heart of the Wagga shed. Members collect old appliances—everything from washing machines and microwaves to electric motors—and pull them apart by hand. Copper wiring, worth up to $10.60 per kilo when stripped, is carefully extracted. Aluminium and steel are sorted into bins, and even plastic tubs from old machines are resold as livestock feeders or fire bins.
This effort brings in approximately $18,000 annually, with proceeds supporting the shed and being redistributed to community causes. Notable beneficiaries include the Wagga Care Van, Pro Patria rehabilitation centre, and Lilly Lodge cancer care centre.
Members find not only purpose but also companionship in this process. Teams of blokes, many well into their 80s and 90s, sit together and unwind motors or strip cables. It’s a hands-on, social approach to environmental care.
Partnerships with Purpose
Wagga Men’s Shed has a long-standing partnership with the local council to refurbish public bench seats. Members remove damaged timbers, replace rusty bolts, and repaint the frames—returning each bench to near-new condition. This project runs year-round, with the council swapping out damaged benches for repaired ones on a regular cycle.
The shed itself is a testament to creative reuse. The walls are made of insulated roller doors, old hospital beds have been converted into adjustable workbenches for shedders of different heights, and trucking company mudguards have been transformed into raised flower and vegetable beds.
From Grief to Generosity: The Deceased Estate Program
Perhaps the most moving initiative is the shed’s deceased estate service. Families overwhelmed by the task of clearing a loved one’s belongings often turn to the shed for help. Shed members respectfully clean out the spaces, sort items into recyclables, saleables, and waste, and bring what they can back to the shed for reuse or resale.
For many families, there’s comfort in knowing that items belonging to their loved ones will help support charitable causes. For shed members, it’s another way to stay active and offer a meaningful service.
The Garage Sale That Never Ends
A shed member with a knack for social media helped transform Wagga’s humble garage sale into a thriving enterprise. Open five days a week, the garage sale now brings in about $75,000 a year. Items are displayed, sold, or scrapped after 6–8 weeks to prevent overflow. Proceeds go to running the shed and funding local charities.
Creative Outlets and Surprising Ventures
In addition to recycling and refurbishing, the shed fosters creativity. One member started growing chrysanthemums after declaring he wasn’t into vegetables—resulting in over two dozen floral arrangements sold for Mother’s Day.
The shed also became home to a leadlight glass project after a retired tradesman’s family donated his entire workshop. Members now sort coloured glass and create new leadlight pieces as a hobby and a tribute to traditional craftsmanship.
A Model for Other Sheds
With an average member age of 87, the Wagga Men’s Shed proves age is no barrier to innovation. David encourages other sheds to explore similar projects—particularly deceased estate pickups and recycling systems.
“There’s value in everything,” he says, “whether it’s scrap metal or an old garden tool. And there’s dignity in giving it a second life.”
The shed’s ethos is simple but powerful: if something can be reused, it will be. If someone needs help, they’ll lend a hand. And if an opportunity exists to do good, the blokes at Wagga Men’s Shed will find it.
