Time to… volunteer with a purpose

Gary Grace spends at least three days a week at the Thirroul Men’s Shed volunteering in overall operations, management and welfare of all those who participate. With nearly 60 members, this is a huge undertaking and Gary prides himself in knowing each member.

He understands their working backgrounds, their skill strengths and their interactions to enable a strong unit to evolve within our community.

“The Men’s Shed is a working unit of men with a purpose," Gary says. “The aim of the shed is to work for the community, to work for each other and to work for ourselves. These three objectives are the ideal for the group.

“With roughly a third for each goal, it manages to bring the group together. We all have our own objectives, and nothing is hard and fast, but we really do work best when interacting and working together.”

Gary is no stranger to volunteering. He volunteered for the NSW Fire and Rescue for 37 years and was the deputy captain in Thirroul.

“My duties were many and varied but looking back in the early days, a $2 call-out fee didn’t really count for anything. Today it is a little more for call-outs, but really the locals are dedicated volunteers with an allowance for a little petrol money. They continue to be amazing people in a much-needed capacity.”

So it is little surprise that Gary has held the president’s role at the Thirroul Men’s Shed for the past five years.

“A good president manages people as well as tools and facilities," Gary says. “I get to know everybody. I have a great committee, who all work really hard at whatever is set. Some of their roles are wide and varied, others small tasks, but I know I can depend on them.” 

There are quite a few areas formally covered in the shed such as woodcrafts, metal crafts (with a metal lathe available), welding facilities, a photography group and computer and phone use group. “Even a gardening group is proving very popular at the back of our sheds. Men bring their own projects or members of the community bring in projects for repairs.”  

“We have made over 500 cheese boards for Greenacres to sell or raffle. This is no small feat as the skills involved in the boards are quite high. The general skills and choices for various woods, the woodwork itself, the joins, the sanding, the varnishing etc all take skills and time.

“We also work with Bunnings supporting their family activities. We made 200 small wooden Christmas trees for children to paint and decorate. Bunnings provide the wood but it is our men who provide the skills. It is amazing to watch the real craftsmen at work for the community."

Gary admits his work at Port Kembla and Illawarra mines in his career developed many personal skills he has brought the shed.

“Certainly a major focus is on safety in our shed, where nobody really works alone. We must look after each other. There is always somebody with first aid knowledge in attendance at every session.

"The shed highlights men’s health with various monthly talks such as a focus on dementia or cancer. One was from Tender Funerals. Most of all, we encourage talking (when not operating machinery).

"General conversation also allows men to feel comfortable and they often open up to each other for support or genuine friendship. Their problems and backgrounds even. We support each other. We invite our wives and partners to a dinner twice a year because we know they, too, are integral to our success.”

Gary understands his own motives for his volunteering. “It really is the camaraderie of the men and the general community, a real sense of purpose and a reason ‘to get out of bed in the morning’ but I also like responsibility and love helping others. We all have different needs, but our blokes are givers. They just get in and complete the task, no matter the job. They really are amazing.”

“I wouldn’t be able to do all of this without the support of my wife, Marie,” Gary says.