Every year a ‘Sheddie of the Year’ is honoured as part of the Annual General Meeting formalities. This is a tradition established with the beginning of the Whitianga MenZshed in 2018 by Malcolm Brown now deceased. Each year at the AGM, The Sheddie of the Year is announced and the presentation is made by Pauline Brown, Malcolm’s wife.
This year President Glenn Schache announced two Sheddies of the Year. Both have the first name Fred – Fred Bonkavich and Fred Brinsden (a coincidence) and both men were part of the small and skilled building team who erected the new MenZshed in Abrahamson Drive completed this last April. This was no coincidence as both men were not members of the MenZshed, but when they learned about this big community project, both wanted to help in a significant way and they certainly did. In the course of working as part of this very successful building project, the two Freds of the MenZshed joined and in the words of Glenn Schache, “Their continuing commitment with their engineering and building skills plus their deep belief in contributing consistently to the friendship and fellowship of the MenZshed has been inspiring.”
The Whitianga Community MenZshed was officially opened in 2019 by locals, Ernie Pitchfork and Malcolm Brown, both members of the Whitianga Lions Club. In April this year, a new MenZshed was opened debt free and with much larger capacity to accommodate the growing membership and many different tool machines.
“MenZshed literally saves lives,” says Glenn Schache President of Whitianga.
“There are many stories from other Sheds in New Zealand and Australia, where Sheds have stopped men from suicide, because they’ve discovered a support network and a purpose. That in itself makes thie MenZshed a very special and necessary community service.
Glenn described the benefits of the MenZshed extend far beyond its members.
“Wives, partners, and families also experience the positive effects of having a thriving, engaged husband or father who is actively involved in the community.”
The MenZshed also supports local Mercury Bay charities and community organisations, with members often taking on projects that benefit the wider community. Builidng wil start soon on a storage and tool extension on the same piece of land as the new MenZshed.
Can this be restored?
An old cart over 80 years old was presented at the Whitianga MenZshed recently. Its timbers were rotting but the style was still there and it had great sentimental and family value to the owner who remembered it being a workable cart in her childhood.
The request was: “Is it possible to restore it?
“Fred Brinsden searched high and low for similar timber and carefully sorted what was redeemable from the pile of discarded remains. It took time and patience and some research. With the help of two MenZshed friends and some paint, a very close replica of the family heirloom was presented to a very happy customer.
Two MenZshed members assist Fred (centre) to put the finishing touches on the cart.
Fred Brinsden with the old timber resources to repair and rebuild the heritage cart.
The finished work.
