From Art to Innovation: Gladstone Men's Shed Projects

At Gladstone Men's Shed, we understand that not everyone wants to be in a workshop environment. That's why we focus on offering a variety of activities to cater to different interests. In November, we trialed a glass art project with the help of a local artist. The idea was to create unique garden art pieces, but our talented Shedders' stunning A4 glass works turned out to be too good to leave outside! We look forward to continuing this art initiative and hope to expand it in 2025 to include other forms of visual arts.

This artistic exploration follows the success of a new exercise group we launched. What began as a trial has now evolved into a committed group of Shedders attending weekly exercise classes. In November, we said a fond farewell to our regular physio, Jess, but we’ll be back at it in the new year, ready to keep moving forward!

Of course, we’re still making things at the Gladstone Shed too! Earlier this year, we proudly created a wave machine for the local university. We recently delivered a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) simulator to the local council. As part of this project for National Recycling Week, our skilled Shedders assembled a hand-turned treadmill belt that sorts four different types of recyclables. The feedback has been fantastic, especially from local schools.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to begin building a school-bus cubby house, which will be donated to a local early childhood center. We came across the design in a Victorian Men’s Shed newsletter, and with the generous help of the Seymour Shed, we received detailed build plans. We’re certain this project will inspire more cubby houses in the future! It’s just one more addition to our growing tally, which now includes nearly 150 mud kitchens and 100 tepees made for the local community over the last decade.

Reading other Shed newsletters gives us a wealth of ideas on how to operate and what projects to undertake. We encourage everyone to share their stories and project experiences in QMSA’s Shed Chatter. Your contributions can be a great help to sheds across Queensland, providing inspiration and fostering a spirit of collaboration.