The first Western Australian Men's Shed Conference was held recently in Mukinbudin on the 3rd & 4th September 2009. Mukinbudin is located 300kms east of Perth on the edge of the Wheatbelt. It has a population of about 650 very community minded residents. The conference was held at the Mukinbudin Community Workshop.
This outstanding conference was attended by 140 delegates who came from places ranging between Paraburdoo to Albany and Esperance.
Keynote speakers were Associate Professor Barry Golding from the University of Ballarat, Professor John Macdonald Foundation Chair in Primary Health Care, Co-director, Men's Health Information & Resource Centre, UWS Hawkes-
bury Campus, David Helmers form Australian Men's Shed Association, Julian Kreig from Wheatbelt Men's Health and the Hon. Brendon Grylls Minister for Regional Development and Lands, Member for the Central Wheatbelt and the Leader of the National Party.
Delegates heard how some of the existing sheds had started and also learned that each shed has its own personality and focus – depending on local needs, influences and community involvement. Topics discussed included how men's sheds can be a major mechanism in improving men's health and thus contributing a significant saving to the national health budget; how to start a shed, funding support, safety and insurance matters. Brendon Grylls gave an interesting insight how to best liaise with our members of parliament and on how best to present submissions to government requesting support.
During the conference, the delegates resolved to form a Western Australian Men's Shed Association (WAMSA) and 12
delegates volunteered to join the steering committee.
Bill Johnstone from the Fremantle Shed will be leading the immediate direction of the steering committee. With AMSA being supported by the respective state bodies, communication between all of the 400 or so sheds throughout Australia will be significantly improved. It will also be able to present a co-coordinated and common voice when presenting issues to government.
AMSA is also preparing a standard insurance package in order to produce a common approach to insurance companies. This will save sheds a lot of effort and premiums are expected to be a lot lower for each shed.
Professor Barry Golding in the final session of the conference was quoted as saying "that this was the best conference I have ever attended - anywhere in the world. The passion and support of the organizers and community, the feeling amongst the conference delegates, the facilities, the food, the social program, the support of people billeting delegates, the quality of the presentations and presenters were all nothing short of outstanding."
To get such a large and enthusiastic group of people to a location 300km away from a capital city is remarkable. Delegates were in awe of and grateful to the Mukinbudin community for organizing and hosting this conference.
The hospitality of Mukinbudin's community was the stuff that legends are made of with many of the Shires ladies doing a lot of the catering. Many of the town's residents opened their homes to provide accommodation for those who couldn't fit into the hotel and caravan park. This was very much appreciated. The organiser Ann Brandis, Shire staff and councillors are congratulated and thanked for organising a very successful conference and hopefully the first of many.