Formation Years
The Batemans Bay Men’s Shed was established in 2007 and set up in the grounds of the Catholic Church precinct in Batehaven NSW.
The first building of a single shed of 140 square metres has expanded to multiple buildings with a number of safe work areas and spaces for the many tools and pieces of engineering equipment used by members. Generous parking spaces exist in the parking area behind the Church.
The Club has about 400 square metres of outdoor garden space which is used to grow a variety of vegetables, herbs, fruit trees and berries suited to the prevailing seasonal conditions.
The Batemans Bay Men’s Shed provides a venue for a variety of social activity which appeals to all ages and backgrounds. Our shed members participate as they choose; some are with us for morning teas and the company. Many others enjoy the company and the use of the many resources and the equipment used to construct or repair personal and home items. Many members learn new skills.
Shed members take part in fund raising efforts throughout the year which are team building and provide income needed for the running expenses of the Shed.
Resources
Shed & Grounds
The Men’s shed has a spread of work areas that enable the safe use of potentially dangerous equipment as well as giving a bit of personal space. We all like to have room to make our mistakes and then press on to succeed in the task.
Equipment
The full list of equipment is available to members after they have been inducted in the safe use of the devices and tools.
Some of the equipment available to our members includes:
- Range of tools in woodworking , lathe and cutting.
- Metal welding, Mig and Plasma.
- Metal grinding, cutting and milling tools.
- Sand Blasting equipment.
- Band Saws.
- Bench Drills.
- Routers Grinders and Buff.
- Belt Sanders.
- Metal Lathes.
- Ride On mower, Cultivators and Mulchers
Activities
The Batemans Bay Men’s Shed has a variety of very rewarding outcomes that make for member enjoyment and satisfaction.
The Club regularly operates the Bunnings Store Outdoor BBQ (sausage sizzle) throughout the year. Great for the team spirit and the income stream funding various developments at the Shed. We quite often have stalls for the Bunning’s Family Night and the Fathers Day market.
The Shed premises are open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm. Access outside these hours is only by arrangement.
Shed members have had some interesting projects that include building ‘objects de art’ as well as the repair / improvement of household furniture and ‘nick naks’. Probably a record for a Men’s Shed, we have made over 1200 ‘campfire cookers’ using recycled 9 Kg LP Gas cylinders over the years and this has provided ‘purpose’ to the Shed’s members as well as generating income.
Community projects, as well as Personal projects are at the heart of members activity at the Men’s shed. Members continue to come in with their pet project and turn a dream into a reality.
A good example of a community project is the building and installing of ‘Street Libraries’. The Shed often receives requests from organisations to build a Street Library and they are becoming very popular with the general public.
Many locals have utilised the Men’s Shed members and equipment for the build and delivery of a range of home use objects. Stylish mailboxes, book cabinets, garden benches and tool cupboards are typical of the items members can produce.
We invite locals in the Batemans Bay area to visit on our operating days and enquire about our services and capability; we do quality work at cost of material plus donation.
Social
The Men’s Shed is active in promoting member involvement outside the Shed. Day trips to some of the coastal communities local attractions builds the ‘camaraderie’ which helps the members bond and ‘belong’ to our Men’s Shed community.
Membership and Conduct
Membership and Conduct rules are naturally subject to procedure and conditions in any organisation. More information is available on request.
The Batemans Bay Men’s Shed follows sensible requirements for rules and the protection of member’s safety through adequate insurance and diligent management of risk.
Membership application forms are available, use the contact email page at the bottom of the website page to place your request. A ‘WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECK’ is required as we operate on school grounds and is part of the member application process.
We invite you to join our Men’s Shed community. Come down to the Shed and join us for a ‘cuppa’ at 10 am Tuesday or Wednesday, meet the ‘Shedders’ and see what we do.