Dan Repacholi (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

This week is Men's Shed Week, and the theme of this year is 'Send him to the Shed'. Did you know that there are more men's sheds in Australia than there are Macca's restaurants? There are over 1,300 of them. Good health is based on many factors, including feeling good about yourself, being productive, contributing to your community, connecting with friends and maintaining an active body and mind. Becoming a member of a men's shed provides a safe and productive environment where men can find many of these things. It's all about being mates and doing something meaningful with your time. There are over 50,000 Australian men who are involved with a men's shed. Because of this, the men's shed movement has become one of the most powerful tools in addressing health and wellbeing and helping men reconnect with their communities as valued and productive members. Men's sheds are important parts of our community, especially in the Hunter, and I will always support them whenever I can and however I can.

My electorate is filled with so many incredible men's sheds. We have the Aberdeen Men's Shed, Bonnells Bay Men's Shed, Branxton-Greta Men's Shed, Cardiff Edgeworth Men's Shed, Cessnock Men's Shed and Garden, Cooranbong Men's Shed, Denman and District Men's Shed, Lake Macquarie Classic Boatshed, Muswellbrook Men's Shed, Singleton Men's Shed, South Lakes Men's Shed, Toronto Men's Shed and, finally, Wangi Men's Shed.

Since becoming the member for Hunter, I've been lucky enough to visit lots of men's shed across my electorate, and it's always great to spend time with the blokes involved. The team at Cessnock Men's Shed and Garden do amazing work restoring things like old rocking horses and building new things like birds' nesting boxes. They also have an amazing garden where they grow their own fruit and veggies. The most important part of this garden is the blue tree, which serves as a reminder that it's okay to not be okay.

When I visited the Singleton Men's Shed, I picked up a jar of the famous men's shed tomato relish from Gerry. Gerry and the team at the Singleton Men's Shed make and sell tomato relish, with all the proceeds going to support local Cancer Council NSW appeals and Cancer Council Australia appeals. So far, they have raised $4,000 and more, so well done, guys. That's an amazing effort.

The guys at the Muswellbrook Men's Shed are doing great work making a variety of local products for council and also the mine sites in the area. They also recycle all the cans and bottles from a number of local clubs, businesses and residents. When I visited, I had the pleasure of drawing the meat raffle. I didn't win anything, unfortunately, but it was a great day with the guys, always having a laugh.

The men's shed in Denman is a very valuable part of the community in Denman. They play an important role by helping to restore the old items for the heritage village which helps to preserve some of the history of the town. They also supply habitat boxes for the mines and build garden furniture.

The Wangi Men's Shed have recently finished restoring an old fire engine that they will be using around Christmas time. I've seen the project, and it's very cool; I can tell you that. I'm sure it will bring so much joy to the community when they see it out and about. They also have an annual monster garage sale where people can go and buy some very impressive woodwork and metalwork products that the men have made. So get out there and check it out. It's on 12 October at the Wangi Men's Shed. Make sure you get out there and see them. It's great to see local community groups enjoying themselves.

Our men's sheds do so much to help the mental health of local men, and they do amazing work for so many other community organisations and charities. Whenever I visit, I enjoy the chats, I enjoy getting involved with their projects, I certainly enjoy the sausage sizzle, and I enjoy how much they generally take the piss out of me as well. So, if you're looking for a way to spend your spare time, go and join your local men's shed and get involved. You won't regret it. There's always something to do at a men's shed. There's lots to build and lots of projects to get involved with. But the best part is being able to make new mates and have a chat and a laugh.

As men, we don't always look after ourselves the way we should and we don't always talk about the things that are bothering us. But getting involved with your local men's shed, meeting people from all walks of life and having a good conversation and a good time is a perfect way to shed the load. So to all the men out there and all the partners of the blokes out there: make sure you get on to them and send them down to the shed.

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