How men’s sheds across the Western Downs are keeping our elderly residents happy and healthy

Data has revealed Australia’s elderly citizens are facing an unprecedented rise in mental health issues and suicide but thanks to local men’s sheds our senior citizens are finding a sense of brotherhood and camaraderie.

Leith Tebbit at the Dalby Men's Shed cutting the railing for the shed's disability ramp. Photo: Georgie Moore / Dalby Herald

When John Greenhalgh’s wife died he felt lost and alone, but thanks to a local men’s shed he was able to find a sense brotherhood and camaraderie.

Now president of the Oakey Men’s Shed, the 90-year-old said it was a “life saver”.

“I joined it when it first got off the ground, my wife had bad dementia at the time and I was getting assistance with her, she went into a home and not long after that she passed away,” he said.

“A lot of the fellas out here are on their own like myself and it gives them something to do, I take a little bit of work home over the weekend to keep me busy, I think I’d be lost without it.

“It's just one of those things where men can get together and talk where they wouldn’t normally talk otherwise, it's a great way of talking about our issues and opening up to our problems.”

Mr Greenhalgh said men’s sheds helped combat the loneliness felt by many older men.

“You can sit, play cards and have a coffee and a yarn,” he said.

“It's good for the banter and hearing the tales of what we got up to in our younger years.

“Normally men hold it in and won't say anything but it’s nice for them to get it out and have a laugh.”

Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed men aged over 85 had the highest suicide rate of all age demographics at 32.7 deaths per 100,000 people, far higher than the suicide rate for all males at 18.8 per 100,000 persons.

Globally people over the age of 70 take their lives at nearly three times the rate of the general population with the World Health Organization suggesting mental health conditions were “under-identified and under-reported” in the elderly.

Dalby Men's Shed’s Leith Tebbit said men’s sheds were a good place for elderly people to meet, have a chat and keep their mind and body active while building and creating.

“We do a lot of maintenance for people, they might want some items fixed or some different items manufactured for themselves, we make special stools, trophies, things for the council, display boards for different events, we are currently making a sandpit for one of the community organisations at the moment,” he said.

“We started in 2013, and it's been pretty successful every since, we’ve always had a strong membership, we have great facility, a nice tea room and a social room with a pool table.

“We have 27 members ranging from 65-year-olds to those in their 80s.

“The idea is they just come for morning tea, have a chat and if they want, do some work.”

Madison Maris is handed a wooden car toy from Leith Tebbit. Photo Will Hunter / Dalby Herald

Mr Tebbit also believed groups like these were important for men’s mental health.

“For men’s health social activity and mateship are very important they are things that we need naturally,” he said.

“Sometimes you don’t know what someone is going through, they come in with their own feelings and they mix with the other guys and it gives them something else to think about and gets their mind off their problems.

“I think the whole idea is to keep your brain active, social activities is a part of that, if you are physically able to use your hands and tools that’s even better still using your mind to create new things is a good activity.”