Geraldton Mens Shed
The Geraldton Menshed in West Australia goes from strength to strength at present.
On my previous visit, twenty two months ago, we were unable to draw together the various fragmented men's groups with which to hold a combined meeting? Those that attended our meeting at the old council chambers, expressed interest in forming a menshed but it has taken until now to become a reality.
The key was finding the right leadership team. With Mac Forsyth and his current management committee we are at last on the right track with a growing membership of twenty or so members. They gather in temporary rented commercial premises which allow the men to meet, work and chat on these days. On my visit I joined the men in their sitting and chatting, there was no apology for nothing being done that day! 'This is what we come here for' one man added, 'there's little to do at home!' A great example of menshed functioning the way it is supposed to function!
Mac has formed an alliance with three separate men's groups to form the Geraldton Menshed group. As he said to me 'alone we struggle, combined we stand a far better chance of gaining the public support and funding we need to advance our overall goals of providing a community resource for the men of Geraldton'. There was still the odd voice for pursuing the unsuccessful single focus goals that were being put to one side but, he added, 'the surprise was that all of the various groups were likely to gain most of their independent goals within the menshed model anyway!
Mac and his team are putting together a Local Symposium planned for the 25th November 2009 drawing together the various stakeholders in a planned multi-million dollar State and Regional Community development Project that is planned for Geraldton. Among his invited guests will be the mayor of Fremantle and speakers from successful West Australian Mensheds, including the mensheds in Fremantle and Donnybrook. He sees this as a great opportunity to stake a claim to a piece of the action for his men and why not, we wish him every success in this endeavour.