What else can you say about the Australian Men's Shed Associations' 3rd National Mens Shed Conference but "WOW". 297 delegates enjoyed 3 days of high quality presentations, good company and companionship.
Conference Patron Tim Mathieson welcomed delegates to the conference in his opening address. Tim is a committed supporter of Mens Sheds and commented that during his time as a Mens Health ambassador he started to hear about sheds and decided to take a look for himself.
After visiting a number of sheds Tim has seen at first hand the benefits of Sheds to the men who participate and to the broader community. Dr Rob Walters provided the key note address conveying the message to all delegates "Talk to your GP and be open and honest". Rob was extremely entertaining speaking very openly and eloquently, Rob who is also a National Mens Health ambassador spent a considerable amount of his time at the conference in between seeing his patients at his local Hobart practice.
The conference also had a growing international content with delegates in attendance from Ireland and New Zealand, John Evoy from county Wexford, Ireland also gave a great presentation on his work with disadvantaged and traveller men in Ireland and how he is establishing sheds in the UK with the assistance of AMSA. John's Irish accent and sense of humour won him many friends and fans who were always offering to buy him a drink, John being a non drinker always accepted a coffee and repeatedly remarked "yeh I know an Irishman who doesn't drink, apparently there is me and one other guy and I haven't seen him for a few years now".
On the Monday evening we all gathered for the conference dinner, where following the AMSA's AGM the new committee and office bearers were announced, newly elected AMSA President Mort Shearer gave a great speech conveying his vision for the association and how he looked forward to working with all members throughout his for coming term. But the highlight of the evening must surely have been Darren Cunningham from Melton Mens Shed's stirring rendition of "Mustang Sally' with the backing of the what was a very entertaining band.
The Wednesday saw an early start and for some of us a blurry eyed one, with key presentation by the Royal College of General Practitioners and presentations on Prostate and Bowl Cancer Foundation and the bowel Cancer on men's health related issues. AMSA Patron Professor Barry Golding gave a presentation on the world wide spread of the phenomena of Mens Sheds. Barry is very respected amongst the shed community as the leading academic on men's shed's. I think we all agree we all hold Barry in deep admiration for his ongoing support.
All delegates would agree we left Hobart with a wealth of new knowledge and new friends. On a personal note it was a great opportunity for myself and the rest of the AMSA team to put faces to the names we talk to and to catch up with those who we have worked closely with over the past few years. I would like to thank the organising committee of the Tasmanian Mens Shed Association, conference director Roger Joseph and the girls from Events Central who made it all happen. For me, the highlight of the conference was to sit back on the last session of the final day and look on as the AMSA committee's panel chaired by newly elected President Mort Shearer answer delegates questions with such clarity and passion for what we are doing. For that final hour I have to admit it was somewhat an emotional one as I watched feeling like a proud parent. A sediment that was very short lived once I contemplate how much work is still to be done but now the Australian Mens Shed Association has taken a few mammoth steps forward.
Thank you to all who came to Hobart and I hope to see you all again in 2011, and please email amsa@mensshed.net with any photos you have so we can post them on the website.
David Helmers
Executive Officer
The Australian Mens Shed association