Woodwork building friendships in St Leonards

FROM customised dog planter boxes to wooden pens and bird boxes, the St Leonards Men’s Shed has become a lively and valued part of the local community.

But the group’s beginnings were far more modest.

In 2007, the group started as a men’s cooking class, sharing kitchen space while its members worked to secure funding.

That changed in 2014 when a $50,000 grant from the Victorian government allowed the kitchen to be extended into a workshop, officially establishing the St Leonards Men’s Shed.

Secretary Shane McManus said the relationships between members, and the support they offer each other, are among the shed’s greatest strengths.

“The camaraderie is a big thing… the way they always look after each other,” he said.

Fellow member Taras Mikulin said the shed also plays an important role in supporting wellbeing.

Drawing on his healthcare background, he leads regular health talks as part of the group’s wellbeing program. These sessions, introduced in 2020, are consistently well attended.

Mikulin joined in 2015 with little woodwork experience but plenty of curiosity, quickly finding his place among the group.

For others, like Peter Smits, the impact has been even more profound.

He describes joining the men’s shed as “the best thing I ever did”.

That sense of belonging continues to draw new members, with more than 20 people often working side by side, stretching the limits of the current space.

A recent council grant will fund an expansion of the workshop to accommodate the growing demand.

Beyond St Leonards, the group stays connected to the broader men’s shed network, with members taking an annual road trip to visit other sheds and share ideas.

Projects vary widely, from heritage window restorations to handcrafted mahjong boards, giving members the chance to both share and build new skills. Wherever possible, recycled materials are used.

Right now, the workshop is filled with animal-shaped planter boxes, a project that has taken on a life of its own.

The idea began as a small school program making eight dogs but quickly sparked wider interest.

 

Since then, more than 400 have been created, many painted to resemble much-loved pets.

The group also works with Landcare on bird boxes, makes tables for the local school, and supports the memorial hall.

“We get a lot of community support, and we provide that support back to the community,” McManus said.

For president John Stevens, it all comes back to the people.

“We’re like one big team,” he said.