Free Community BBQs

An important facet of what the Virtual Shed project has been all about is to get the message out to men in the Upper Hunter that taking care of your health is important. That includes physical, mental, relationship and financial health.

Now, there is no denying that visits to your GP, contacting support services when in need of help and having regular checkups is vitally important. But aside from that, there is ample evidence that being actively involved in your family or community has massive health benefits too.

Social isolation can literally be deadly.

And so, in promoting healthy lifestyles for men, we believe our community BBQs are an ideal way to connect with your neighbours and community in a fun, relaxing way.

And so, the Scone Neighbourhood Centre through the Virtual Shed project is hosting free community BBQs for men in the Upper Hunter, the first of which will be at the Bunnan Hall on Saturday, April 16 from 6:30 pm.

Guest speaker at this BBQ will be Todd Andrews from the NSW Department
of Industries and Investment who will share some interesting insights into
international farming practices that should prove to be instructive.

The Bunnan BBQs have proven to be very popular in past years with a great
turnout and I look forward to the men enjoying their get-together.

Also in April, there will be a Community BBQ at the Upper Hunter Men’s Shed
located behind the Senior Citizens’ Centre in Oxford Rd, Scone. The lunch
time BBQ will be held on April 21 from 11:30 am and featuring Stuart
Torrance, Coordinator for the Hunter Cluster of Mens Sheds.

Men of all ages are invited to attend and learn more about the value of getting
involved in the growing mens shed movement across Australia.
Bookings are essential for catering purposes and can be made by phoning
the Neighbourhood Centre on 6545 2562.

Phoenix Rising

Back in May, I published a blog proclaiming the end of the Virtual Shed project - and a mere two hours later the Neighbourhood Centre received a call informing us that we'd been offered an extention to our grant to continue the Virtual Shed another twelve months.

So, like Phoenix rising from the ashes, the Virtual Shed has another life. Our thanks go to the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs for considering the work we've been doing important enough to keep funding the project. To say we've been overwhelmed by the show of faith is an understatement.

Now it's getting back to the grind-stone to organise interesting speakers and events for the men of the Upper Hunter while continuing to promote community building, good health and overcoming adversity.

We plan to have four major functions and at least four smaller community gatherings over the next twelve months. So, if you'd like to invite the Virtual Shed to host a function in your town in the Upper Hunter Shire, drop me a line at virtualshed@pacific.net.au or phone on 02 6545 2562 to talk about what sort of activity you'd like to have. Be creative with your ideas but bear in mind the focus needs to be about promoting healthy lifestyle.

And for those who are unaware, a group has formed to get a communal mens shed happening in Scone. The Upper Hunter Mens Shed currently has a drop in service at the rear of the Scone Neighbourhood Centre in Liverpool St each Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm when men of all ages are welcome and encouraged to pop in for a cuppa, chat and companionship. So, come along and see where the Shed is heading.

They're also looking at working on some Community Projects with re-spraying the metal legs of 70 chairs for the Neighbourhood Centre already underway. So why not come along and join in on the fun?

Farewell to the Virtual Shed

Saturday 5 June at the Scone Bowling Club will see the final ever Virtual Shed function being held from 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start.

The Final Shed will feature Broderick Smith & Matt Taylor performing. Broderick was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2009 as a member of “The Dingoes” – famous for their country/rock anthem “Way Out West”. Broderick has a long history as a performer and has released fifteen albums to date, nine under his own name, recording both here in Canada and the US. He has recorded with Cat Stevens, Jimmy Barnes, Steve Cropper, The Memphis Horns, Buffy Saint Marie, Ted Egan, Tommy and Phil Emmanuel. The list goes on and on.

An artist of this calibre rarely comes to Scone, so make sure you don’t miss out. Phone the Scone Neighbourhood Centre on 6545 2562 to secure your booking.

Entry is a gold coin donation and finger food/bar snacks will be provided.

After three years the funding provided by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has ended. This funding has been a huge boon to the Scone Neighbourhood Centre and the men of the Upper Hunter who have benefited from the many events, workshops and functions we have held.
Over the three years I have seen a real increase in awareness of some of the major health issues affecting men - especially men in a community that has been hit hard by drought and economic downturn.

Over three years I have seen men show an increased willingness to share the problems that affect them, take charge and seek help from the professional services on offer, gain an understanding that there is no shame in asking for help and become involved in activities that strengthen their families and communities.

We have received amazing support from many individuals, community groups, not-for-profit agencies, local, state and federal government agencies and service clubs. There are too many to name; but their support has been invaluable in making the Virtual Shed the success it has been.

This will be a men's only function - so show your support and book now!

Bunnan and Scone Update

Bunnan: Rural towns and villages have a strong history of close knit communities where people know and greet each other in the streets and look out for each other in tough times. The blokes of Bunnan kept that tradition alive on Sunday night when they gathered at the Bunnan Hall for a BBQ hosted by Scone Neighbourhood Centre’s Virtual Shed project.

A good turnout of some seventeen men from Bunnan gathered together to enjoy each other’s company, relax, share stories and hear speakers Linden Green and Tony Rockley.

Linden Green, from Interrelate in Newcastle gave an overview of the range of services offered by Interrelate including relationship counseling, family mediation and classes in parenting. Linden also spoke about the importance and value of developing and maintaining close knit communities especially as a way of “inoculating” against potential health problems. Mr Green said, “A real problem where communities have disintegrated is people lose their connectedness. This can increase the risk of depression in particular. Having a place like a hall, a shed, a tennis club or any other regular social get-together has huge benefits in reducing that risk.”

Tony Rockley, publicity officer for Muswellbrook Toastmasters entertained the gathering with a range of stories and offered valuable information about the NSW Ambulance service where he works as a paramedic. Mr Rockley spoke about how his involvement in Toastmasters has opened many opportunities for him and how it could do the same for others who are interested In participating.

This project is due to wind up at the end of June, so it was great to get back out to Bunnan. Blokes enjoying an evening out, getting a perspective on how things can change for the better; learning more about services, getting involved in activities and simply spending time with each other in a relaxed atmosphere is what this project is all about. Well done Bunnan!

Scone: Hot on the heels of the BBQ in Bunnan, the Virtual Shed had an evening in Scone last Friday. Thanks go to Michael Dooley from the Christian Information Centre for making the venue available to us, helping promote the evening and setting the venue up so all could go smoothly on the night.

It was a bit disappointing to see only about fifteen men turn up on the night, but despite the small turn out, it was a great evening. Dr Steve Sylvester from the Scone Medical Practice gave a very informative and entertaining talk about important men's health matters. As always, he was well received. Ollie Hall spoke about his experience with prostate problems and stressed the importance of getting checked out by your GP early. Many thanks go to Ollie who stepped in at the last minute to fill in after another speaker was unable to attend on the night.

The keynote speaker was Chris "Buddha" Handy who shared some fascinating insights into his life as a rugby player, commentator and community worker. "Buddha" proved to be very entertaining and interesting.

Get fed, get entertained, get involved -Get to Aberdeen

The Virtual Shed in partnership with the Upper Hunter Museum of Rural Life invite men and women in the community to meet and hear the internationally acclaimed artist, Greg Wilson, speak at Aberdeen on Thursday, February 18.

At age 24, Wilson was involved in a near-fatal motorcycle accident in Paddington, severing the main artery in his neck and being pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene before they were able to bring him back to life.
During a traumatic four-year recovery period, plagued by depression, anger and confusion, he called upon previously acquired skills in art and woodwork to begin sculpting and painting. It was the beginning of an exciting and rewarding journey.
“Greg’s story is inspirational and a reminder of how doing something you love and keeping active, whether it’s painting, working with clay, turning wood, tinkering on old machinery, or anything to keep your hands and mind busy, can have a huge positive effect.” said Bernie Rischke, project officer for the Virtual Shed.

John Scriven from the Upper Hunter Museum of Rural Life said, “The Museum Committee has been very interested in being associated with a Men’s Shed for a number of years. We’d love anyone interested in being part of a Men’s Shed committee to come along on the night and offer their support. We see the Shed as being somewhere men can come and have an outlet to do things or just spend some time out in a place with other men. One thing we want to encourage is passing on skills that are being lost to the community.”

“This is an exciting development for the Virtual Shed Project,” said Mr Rischke, “We will be hosting functions for the men of the Upper Hunter to the end of June in the format that’s become familiar, but having others come on board to keep the concept going beyond the end of the project, and work towards the establishment of a permanent Shed for men, is something we welcome. Not only has interest been shown in Aberdeen, but early March will see another function in Scone at which the committee will be formed to press forward with the idea.”

Greg Wilson can be heard at St Marks Hall, Aberdeen on February 18 with a BBQ starting at 6:30 pm. A gold coin donation to support the Project is requested and bookings are essential. To book, contact the Scone Neighbourhood Centre on 6545 2562 by close of business February 10.

Return of the Shed

Well, exciting news! The Scone Neighbourhood Centre has been fortunate enough to be offered funding through the Federal Government's Community Investment Program to continue the project for another twelve months.

For those of you not familiar with the Virtual Shed Project, a bit of background information is in order. This project, which has been successfully operating in the Upper Hunter since August 2007 has its basis in two things - the Men's Shed movement sweeping Australia and the recognition that men, particularly those in rural Australia, can benefit from an opportunity to gather with each other in a safe, welcoming environment where they can share their experiences, stories, skills and wisdom in a supportive way. I guess "bringing back mateship" is the core aim of communal men's sheds and indeed of the Virtual Shed Project.

The Virtual Shed project has organised numerous activites, workshops and functions across the Upper Hunter featuring guest speakers, local identities, General Practitioners and service groups.

Over the next twelve months we will be continuing to offer these opportunities for men to have a night out and forget the day to day grind. But there will be a difference this time around - one outcome we hope to achieve is the establishment of an actual Men's Shed - or at the very least, have processes in place, find community champions, bring business and the corporate sector on board and involve interested men in setting a solid foundation for the creation of at least one (preferably a cluster) of Sheds in the Upper Hunter.

This blog will be used to inform, promote and instruct about the progress of the project, upcoming events, share ideas and offer information of general interest to Upper Hunter Sheddies so feel free to get involved.