WHEN residents in the Canungra district found themselves confined to their homes and the local area during Covid many decided that they needed to find a project to keep themselves occupied.
Ian Taylor, Norm Graham and Col Ford decided on devoting themselves to the idea of establishing a Men’s Shed in the area.
The small group of three quickly garnered interest from others and in 2020 the Canungra Men’s Shed became a reality.
The offer of taking over the semi-abandoned Green Shed at the Showgrounds from Derek Finch was a major step in the project and after insurances and some tools and machinery were taken care of 16 members started turning up regularly on a Tuesday and Thursday morning.
Ian Taylor was asked to take on the president’s role and for the first four years he successfully guided the Canungra Men’s Shed to double its membership.
After deciding to change his lifestyle for family and health reasons Ian has just stepped down, but he proudly looks back on a job well done.
“I am delighted in what we have achieved and how we have helped many men in the area by providing a place of support and friendship,” he said.
“Many believe a Men’s Shed is just a place where middle aged men get together and make things, it couldn’t be further from just that.
“It’s foremost about men supporting other men, many of us have the same issues and it’s good to talk about it rather than keep it to yourself,” he said.
Doubling the group’s membership has not been the only positive for the Canungra Men’s Shed.
Ian along with the help of other members has successfully applied for more than $100,000 in grants resulting in the Green Shed updated with better equipment as well as a kitchen and air-conditioned office.
He said the Canungra community’s support for the Men’s Shed had been overwhelming since day one and that commitment had played a major role in their growth.
“We have also given back whenever we could and any profits we have made from the sale of items has been handed to local groups,” he said.
While Ian has moved out of the area he will still be dropping in now and then to see how the project which was once just an idea over a cuppa during Covid is progressing.
He can rest assured it will only go forward as a result of the strong foundations that he and the first members of the Canungra Men’s Shed put down.
