Myles Prebble has helped revive the MenzShed in Cambridge. Photo: Roy Pilott.
Myles Prebble was at home “doing nothing” during the Covid lockdown, so he decided to make a ukulele from resources in his shed.
Fast forward to late last month and he was behind a considerably bigger shed project – reviving a Cambridge branch of MenzShed.
His next challenge is to find a home for the group, which is relaunching with more than 30 members.
It will be Waikato’s newest MenzShed and the second in Waipā – there is also an active shed in Te Awamutu. The province is well served by similar sheds Ōtorohanga, Te Kuiti, Hamilton, Matamata, Mangakino, Morrinsville, Paeroa, Pauanui, Tokoroa, Tairua, Taupō, Thames, Whangamata and Whitianga.
A MenzShed is described as “a place that brings men together in one community space to share their skills, have a laugh, and work on practical tasks individually (personal projects) or as a group (for the shed or community).”
Prebble, a Cambridge company director, took the initiative alongside Mike Gast, the president of the Te Kuiti MenzShed, to gauge the interest in Cambridge. An impressive turnout of 36 men gave the duo confidence to make further advancements.
Prebble developed a passion for woodworking during the first national lockdown, finding old tools and resources to keep himself occupied.
Following the meeting in Cambridge the new shed will become an incorporated society and a registered charity.
“I think our biggest challenge is going to be finding the premises, and any assistance we can get from anybody with that is going to be important,” Prebble said.
“As a registered charity and an incorporated society, we’re not going to be a money-making operation and need to rely on donations and grants from the community or the council to keep ourselves afloat.”
News of the new branch has been welcomed on social media, some noting the previous “shed” in Cambridge at Resthaven had been hindered by its small size.
Cambridge has been without a MenzShed for five years.
Eric Hill noted loneliness was “a very real fact of life for those who retire and find life very unstimulating” and the MenzShed was a vital part of community mental health.
One post suggested that with the proliferation of retirement villages under construction, putting a workshop facility in each one would be a top idea.
For more information about the organisation, go to https://menzshed.org.nz/
- Ollie Newport is a Wintec journalism student
