By Jolene Ogle
THE Men’s Shed movement is all about having a yarn and on Saturday 19 November the Men’s Shed Pomona welcomed special guests to their workshop for a chat, some cake and a celebration of two years’ hard work.
Dreams for a Men’s Shed in Pomona started in 2002 when a group of locals met at the Pomona Community House for a chat, but two years ago their dream became a reality when they were given a lease for the current site.
Unitywater played a big role in helping the group establish their meeting space by organising a lease on the unoccupied shed at the old forestry depot on Reserve Street in Pomona and then helping with water and sewerage connections.
Since then, the original group of six has grown to 20 and together they have restored the 150-year-old shed, built a new shed with a kitchenette and bathroom, and built a shade house for growing plants.
Group president Doug Bettens welcomed Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien and his family, along with State Member for Gympie Tony Perrett and his wife Michelle, Noosa Mayor Tony Wellington and Unitywater CEO George Theo to the site on Saturday to unveil a new mural and tour the workshops.
Mural artist and Men’s Shed member Denis Sussmitch said he wanted to capture the essence of the Men’s Shed in the painting that now adorns one side of the 150-year-old woodworking shed.
The mural is all about friendship and helping a mate with the work showing two hands helping each other illuminated by a light in front of doors that are always open.
Group member Colin Thompson said the Men’s Shed group is about so much more than working with wood and metal, it’s about “talking rubbish and having two hour morning teas”.
“Men used to go to the pub to talk, but we don’t do that anymore,” he said.
“So we come here now. I don’t know anything about working with wood or metal, but other guys can show me. But that’s not what it’s about. It’s about talking and the comradery.”
Mr Thompson recently suffered his second heart attack and said he owed a large part of his recovery to his time spent at the Men’s Shed Pomona with his fellow group members.
“There are others with health issues, so we all know what it’s like,” he said. “We have the comradery here.”
Other group members shared the sentiment and said they love being a part of the Men’s Shed because they can make new friends, share issues and enjoy male company without sitting at the pub. Some members said they enjoy passing on “old time” skills to new members such as wood work and welding.
The group are now busy preparing for the coming Pomona Markets on Saturday 10 December where they will sell the plants they have grown in the shade house to help raise much-needed funds.
“We don’t get much money,” Mr Bettens said. “We generally have to do it tough, but I guess we like it that way. It makes us more passionate and resourceful.”
The group also have a range of items they are getting ready to sell-off to help raise funds for replacing tools and stocking their metal workshop.
New members are always welcome at Men’s Shed Pomona and anyone who is interested in learning more about the group can phone Brian Lawson on 5485 2865.
