Why the Kilkivan Men’s Shed welcomes women

It has taken eight years, but the South Burnett home of the Kilkivan Great Horse Ride has opened the state’s first Men’s Shed to be fully inclusive of women, and already has 10 female members.

With a caring focus on the mental health of the community, the Kilkivan Veteran and Community Men’s Shed provides special services for ex-service men and women in the region.

The Kilkivan Veteran and Community Men’s Shed had its grand opening on June 1, with visitors from all over Queensland celebrating the state’s first men’s shed to welcome women.

With a caring focus on the mental health of the community, the Kilkivan Veteran and Community Men’s Shed will provide special services for ex-service men and women, diverting from a fundamental principle of men’s sheds across Australia - they are for men only.

According to the Australian Men’s Shed Association, the movement has become a powerful tool for addressing men’s health and wellbeing, though it acknowledges “not all men’s sheds are the same”.

In Kilkivan, in the western reaches of the Gympie region, retired RAAF policeman and Men’s Shed treasurer David Timperley said he saw an opportunity eights years ago to support locals who suffered from poor mental health, and began researching the subject with a psychologist.

The Kilkivan Veteran and Community Men’s Shed enjoyed their grand opening with visitors from all over the state attending to commemorate the first shed to welcome women. Pictured is retired RAAF policeman and treasurer David Timperley and Nanango LNP MP Deb Frecklington.

“Because we’re a small town we needed somewhere for women to go and we’re aware there are a number of sheds around who don’t let women go into them,” Mr Timperley said.

“It was established with the intention of providing a place for everyone and to be inclusive, we have 10 female members so far.

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“It came about because of a need to support those with mental and general health issues, at risk of isolation in the community.

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“Some 400 letters were written to government and businesses for support and I kept working on plans, approvals and fundraising.

“We ran a seniors week event, a mental health week event and fundraisers every Saturday.”

Nanango LNP MP Deb Frecklington said many years of determination and persistence helped bring the project to fruition.

With a caring focus on the mental health of the community, the Kilkivan Veteran and Community Men’s Shed will provide special services for ex-service men and women in the region.

“While they faced many hurdles, they never gave up, resulting in a fantastic community shed for Kilkivan,” Mrs Frecklington said.

“Since the first community shed for men opened its doors in South Australia in 1993, the Men’s Shed community has grown to encompass more 1297 Men’s Sheds across Australia and a total of 2500 sheds across 12 countries,” she said.

Chairman Jeffrey Scarlett said he had loved the community one-on-one interactions he had come across while working towards the shed’s opening.

“We had to navigate the council and funding but we’re open and are looking forward to more locals joining,” he said.

“We wanted to include everyone in the region and once we started many of our volunteers wives wanted to be involved.”

“We will take on as many members as Kilkivan can give us,” he said.

Residents will all levels of experience in carpentry, crafts and building are welcome to attend.

Memberships are $35 for one year and can access the shed from Monday to Friday, 9am-2pm.

Originally published as Why the Kilkivan Men’s Shed welcomes women