IN 2013, my husband John was to retire and I thought, what will he do – he does not have a hobby or sport he follows.

So, I approached the Nagambie Lakes Community House's Maureen Binsoll–Collins and a public meeting was held under their banner.

More than 30 men attended the first meeting in March 2013 to see if a men's shed was viable for Nagambie.

Representatives of the Victorian Men's Shed Association attended and explained what men's sheds are intended to do.

A steering committee was formed and the rest, as they say, is history.

In 2023, the Nagambie Lakes Men's Shed, such a needed facility for local young and older men, turned 10 years old.

The men hope to celebrate this milestone in the shed's history very soon and invite locals to the event.

My John is still one of the original members in the shed and enjoys it so much, especially the bonding with retired men like himself and helping out the community in small ways.

The group met at the Nagambie Scout Hall for some years and established a valuable group for local men, especially those who had retired like John.

The Strathbogie Shire Council and other groups supported the establishment of a permanent home for the Nagambie Lakes Men's Shed.

John Sharley, who has taken over the presidency reins from Larry King, said it was officially opened in July 2017 and has been growing in skills and abilities ever since, even though membership has dropped off a little lately.

"It would be good if more local men came along and saw what our shed has to offer them and the community," Mr Sharley said.

In 2023 the shed members have undertaken the upgrading of their barbecue trailer and will soon be serving hot dogs when they cook their fare out in public, like at the town markets or outside IGA.

I visited the guys recently as I heard they had made some vegetable garden beds out of old mushroom farm boxes.

The no dig boxes were filled with mulch and vegetable seedlings and the recent rain, even though it was a deluge, did not harm the baby plants.

The golf club asked the guys to make some wooden and metal spikes for their course and the guys were happy to do this project for them.

The shed regularly collects aluminum cans in bags and sells them to the scrap–monger man Greg from Lancaster scrapyard.

This is a good community project that helps keep the can rubbish down, as well as the group's fundraising needs.

Recently the men made a wooden bench for the new Avenel Library verandah and have done maintenance jobs for locals.

The Nagambie Lakes Med's Shed also provides opportunities to learn new skills or teach ones from your own experience.

For more information on the shed contact Mr Sharley on 0438 097 708 or one of the members on the committee.

The men meet on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at their Filson St shed from 8am–12pm.

Why not go along and see if you can contribute to their abilities and talents, enjoy a cuppa and chat, and utilise their well equipped men's shed.