Queensland Men’s Shed Songwriting Competition Winners Announced
The Queensland Men's Shed Association (QMSA) is delighted to announce the winners of the Queensland Men's Shed Songwriting Competition 2026, presented during Coolum Men’s Shed, Shed Music Festival 26, on Sunday 18th at 4 pm.
The competition invited Men's Shed members from across Queensland to share their stories through original music, celebrating the creativity, experiences and talents that thrive within the Shed movement.
Winner
Bruce Uhlhorn (Coolum Men's Shed) for Neptune Didn't Claim Us Today
Joint Runners-Up
Bob Barford (Coolum Men's Shed) for Sail Away; Bruce Richard Morgan (Noosa Men's Shed) for I Am Home (Wherever We Go)
QMSA Chief Executive Officer Frank Pearce said the quality of entries highlighted the remarkable creative talent across Queensland's Men's Sheds.
"The stories shared through these songs reflect the spirit of the Shed movement, friendship, resilience, humour and a lifetime of experiences. Congratulations to all entrants, and particularly our award recipients, for having the courage to put their creativity on display."
The event was also a wonderful celebration of community, with Shed members, fellow shedders and the broader community turning out in droves to support their mates. The enthusiasm and encouragement shown during the event reflected the strong friendships and connections that make Men’s Sheds such an important part of community life.
After the presentations, the winner and joint runners-up performed their songs to a packed audience, giving everyone a chance to enjoy the creativity and stories behind the winning entries.
QMSA is proud to support initiatives such as the songwriting competition, which give members opportunities to explore their interests, share their talents, and strengthen social connections through meaningful activities.
QMSA also thanks Coolum Men’s Shed for supporting the competition as part of Shed Music Festival 26. Special thanks go to Merv Elliott from Maroochy Men’s Shed, who developed the concept and managed the inaugural competition in 2025, helping bring this wonderful initiative to life.
Pictured below: Frank Pearce presents the winning award to Bruce Uhlhorn (tan shirt); Frank Pearce presents a runners-up award to Richard Morgan (blue shirt); Frank Pearce presents a runners-up award to Bob Barford (music shirt).
