beyondblue launches men’s shed online
The Shed Online is a new website that aims to replicate in the online space, all the positive things men get from being in their own sheds or in a community Men’s Shed.
beyondblue chairman, Jeff Kennett, says the inspiration for The Shed Online comes from the 400 Men’s Sheds which are thriving Australia-wide.
“In those sheds, in towns across the country, men can get together, work on projects shoulder to shoulder, learn new skills and if they feel comfortable, they can talk to one another about light-hearted or more serious issues,” Mr Kennett said.
“We want to give men who don’t have a local Men’s Shed the opportunity to be part of a community, to socialise, make new friends and maybe, work on a project together. The Shed Online will tick all those boxes, but instead of it happening in a real shed, it will happen in a virtual shed, over the Internet.”
Patron of the Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) and Australia’s “First Bloke”, Tim Mathieson, encourages all men to get involved.
“Even if you’re a bit shy at first, you’ll be able to chat to mates, get information about a whole range of topics including health, learn about DIY projects and hopefully, eventually, you’ll feel like you belong to this community or club… and it doesn’t matter where you live,” he says.
“Joining up and joining in is easy – and it’s free. You go to www.theshedonline.org.au and register to become a member and then you can participate in the discussion forums.”
The Shed Online is a joint project of beyondblue and the Australian Men’s Shed Association, and is funded by The Movember Foundation.
Visit http://www.theshedonline.org.au for more details.
