Shed Life Membership for Doug

On December 15, 2020, the Barham Koondrook Men’s Shed president, Keith Ellis, presented Doug Matthews with Life Membership of the Barham Koondrook Men’s Shed. Doug began the inception of a Shed back in 2008 when he came and saw me to create a Men’s Shed for Barham and Koondrook. He had been on holidays to New Zealand and from what he encountered in a Shed there, the idea was forming that it could happen in our small rural twin towns. 

As a member of the Barham RSL, I was able to make the contacts to apply for grant funding. The location of the Shed was a difficult one. First considered was the Flywheelers site, next to their current shed but that did not work out. Initial meetings were held in the old nurses’ quarters of the Barham Koondrook Hospital of which we were extremely grateful. We were offered the building to start up but that was not feasible due to the possibility of asbestos in the walls and ceilings. 

The Wakool Shire at that time was not supportive so we decided we might have better luck over the border in Koondrook. The offer of the Koondrook Recreation Reserve was raised and we accepted that. The Murray River Woodworkers already had a shed at the Reserve and offered the use of it until there was a purpose-built Men’s Shed available for members. 

As some of our members were RSL members and/or ex-service, we were able to apply for a grant through the Department of Veterans Affairs for the construction of a shed. To cut a long story short, we applied for many grants over the next four years with FaHCsia, DPCD, CATCH, Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR), Australian Men’s Shed Association, Andrews Foundation, Gannawarra Shire and Australia Post. Altogether, 26 grants were applied for, some successful (13), others unsuccessful. These grants enabled the Shed to be equipped with machinery and tools, provide lighting, dust extractors and a concrete ramp at the front of the Shed. Funding was also received from the Murrabit Lions Club and cluBarham. O’Brien Redgum Sawmills has also been very supportive by donating wood for the raffle and providing the dust extraction unit. 

To raise needed funds in the early days, the Shed members undertook sausage sizzles, held stalls at the local markets and sold raffle tickets outside the local shops, with Doug leading the way. We also undertook a project ‘Buy a Wall Panel’ which was very well supported by the local business community and residents of Barham, Koondrook, Murrabit and the surrounding district. The Shed also received a great deal of support from the Koondrook Recreation Reserve Committee and the Koondrook Cricket Club enabling the Men’s Shed members to use the Cricket Club facilities for their functions and so on. We have seen a lot of men and women pass through the Shed, so Doug should give himself a big pat on the back for initiating the process to develop a Men’s Shed for Barham and Koondrook. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Doug is deserving of Life Membership of the Barham Koondrook Men’s Shed.