Shedloads of support

Men’s Shed Narrogin hosted a Southern Wheatbelt zone meeting last week, with mental health first aid on the agenda.

Representatives from seven sheds, including Wickepin, Williams, Bruce Rock and Lake Grace, came to the event to exchange concerns, ideas and achievements.

Men’s Shed WA development officer Mike Wiggin said the aim of the forums was to unite the regional sheds and create a network.

“They get to see what the other sheds are doing, what they're involved in, what other people have got, but also they exchange ideas on how to get members and raise funds,” he said.

“It’s a great way to network for the sheds, but it’s also a great way for us as the State association to find out what it is these guys want from us and what we can do for them.”

Mr Wiggin said one of the important things the association was trying to get the sheds involved with was a mental health first aid initiative.

“We’re are providing funds for the sheds to get people trained up in mental health first aid,” he said. “It’s not going to make them into counsellors or psychologists or anything, but it is going to give them the skills to understand how to recognise things like depression and suicidal tendencies or the onset of dementia.”

Men’s Shed Narrogin president Alan Parks said the zone meetings were significant for the clubs, as they provided members with a platform to share and support each other. Mr Parks had been part of the club since it was officially established seven years ago, and said it had filled an important spot in his life.

“After I retired this became my life, virtually, and I often say I’m going to give it away but I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to,” he said.