Hedland Men’s Shed put down root in the Pilbara

Hedland’s Men’s Shed are set to find their own home in the coming months with their first fully built shed that aims to reflect the needs of the community and provide a platform for men to promote positive mental wellbeing. The Australian Men’s Shed Association this week celebrated Men’s Shed Week across the country, emphasising the importance of coming together particularly in times of distress. Hedland Men’s Shed president Shane Hashim has been working towards building a shed in Hedland for the last three years. He said he is expecting a big announcement within the next few months and it is important the shed reflects the needs of the community. “The community definitely want it with lots of people asking when we are going to be open,” Hashim said. “We’re about to sign a lease for a new place which has been three years in the running.” The shed will have workshops and projects and Mr Hashim said he is open to other suggestions from members. “What we offer will be what the community wants and what men from Hedland want,” he said. “The really important thing with men’s sheds is that they meet the needs of their community, which is different depending on where you are.” Men’s Shed Chairman Paul Sladdin said COVID-19 made it challenging to gather together like usual but the message was still just as important. “The pandemic has certainly got in the way of Shedders getting together in person as much as they’d like to over the last eighteen months,” he said. “But like us, Men’s Sheds around the country have found ways to stay in touch and to support their mates by other means and that’s what we’re celebrating this year.” Men’s Sheds started in the early 1990s and there are now over 1200 men’s, women’s and community sheds across Australia.